PNM warns of possible power shutoffs amid wildfire risks

Amid a very windy start to the week, the Public Service Company of New Mexico is warning customers near high fire-risk areas the company could shut off power to prevent wildfires.

PNM will give a heads up to customers before turning off power temporarily, a process called public safety power shutoffs, or PSPS. Exactly how long PNM needs to shut off power depends on the extreme weather situation.

“Up until hours before, the weather can change and the situation can change very quickly,” said Michael Mertz, PNM’s vice president of operations.

PNM will implement a temporary power outage if weather modeling tools identify extreme enough weather conditions, like high wind levels or low humidity levels. Areas with a lot of wind fuel content, like trees or grasslands, are more likely to receive power shutoffs.

That includes Santa Fe, the East Mountains, Las Vegas, Ruidoso, Clayton, the Mescalero Apache Nation, Silver City and Tesuque Pueblo, according to PNM.

PNM crews will also inspect power lines before turning power back on in a PSPS to ensure nothing like tree branches have fallen into the path of the lines, conducting any necessary repairs.

The utility is also in the process of disaster-proofing its infrastructure.

PNM is covering wooden distribution lines with fire-proofing wrap and converting transmission lines to steel structures, said Omni Warner, PNM vice president of operations and engineering.

He also said the utility is rebuilding existing infrastructure, like if it’s at the end of its useful life, to “grid-harden” it, or make the poles taller and cross arms wider to make lines more disaster resistant. Rebuilding transmission lines will take place over the next five to 10 years, Warner said.

He also said about 40% of PNM’s distribution is underground, avoiding wildfire risks. The company could implement more underground infrastructure in high fire-risk areas in the coming years. He said most of the existing underground infrastructure is in Albuquerque or Rio Rancho, larger communities with less wildfire risks that have fronted the higher costs for converting the infrastructure.

“Those communities are willing to pay more,” he said.

As of Monday afternoon, PNM hadn’t issued a PSPS, utility spokesperson Jeff Buell said. He said the company is issuing public notices for what could come in the windy spring weather.

PNM President and CEO Don Tarry in a news release urged customers to be prepared for the possibility of power shutoffs.

“The safety of our customers and the communities we serve is our No. 1 priority,” he said.