ROSWELL, N.M. – Xcel Energy is asking electric customers in eastern New Mexico to conserve energy because of expected high demand on the area’s electric distribution system.
The utility company urges customers in eastern New Mexico to limit their power use for the next 24 hours in order to reduce the strain on local distribution lines. Xcel Energy should produce enough power to meet demand today, but the electric distribution lines serving eastern New Mexico communities are at or near capacity as customers use greater amounts of electricity to heat homes and businesses in the frigid weather.
The issues affecting New Mexico are unrelated to power supply issues affecting portions of Texas, where several downstate power plants have come offline because of cold weather. The Texas issue affects customers within the ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) grid, which is separate from the grid that serves Xcel Energy customers. All available Xcel Energy power plants in Texas and New Mexico are operational today.
Customers can help prevent power emergencies by:
- Turning off unneeded lights, computers and appliances.
- Setting the thermostat to 68 degrees or lower at home.
“We take our responsibility to supply energy to our customers very seriously,” said Riley Hill, president of Southwestern Public Service Company, an Xcel Energy company. “Our customers have helped us through similar situations in the past, and we look to them today to help us maintain the integrity of their electricity system. Turning off all lights and appliances that are not essential to health and safety will help us meet everyone’s energy needs without service interruptions. We at Xcel Energy – and your friends and neighbors – thank you.”
