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Extreme winds could spur power outages
PNM has issued a public safety power shutoff in the East Mountains to avoid a possible wildfire sparking from downed lines in high winds. The shutdown is in effective from Thursday at noon to Friday around 6 p.m., and is subject to changing depending on the winds.
A windy Tuesday could make for power outages around New Mexico.
With 30-40 mile-per-hour winds expected, public utilities sent advisories out on Monday cautioning of the severe weather and potential for power outages that are enacted to reduce wildfire risks.
The Public Service Company of New Mexico, the state’s largest electricity provider, may sensitize its system Tuesday so it can automatically de-energize power lines if tree branches or other debris fall onto them — which could result in extended power outages, per a Monday news release.
Similarly, west New Mexico utility provider Xcel Energy, which operates through subsidiary Southwestern Public Service Co., said it planned to enact its higher-sensitivity power line settings. The company didn’t expect the need for weather-related power shutoffs on Tuesday, according to a news release.
As of Monday, the National Weather Service had flagged most of the state with high wind warnings for Tuesday.
PNM customers can view a live outage map online at https://outagemap.pnm.com/. Xcel Energy customers can see an online map at www.outagemap-xcelenergy.com/outagemap/.
