ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — As this storm brings strong wind on top of already dry conditions, our energy companies are trying to prevent disaster through public safety power shutoffs.

“We did have a pocket of very extreme winds and low humidity in the Tucumcari area,” said Adrian Rodriguez, the president of Xcel Energy in New Mexico and Texas. “We’re taking action to protect our communities and customers and our crews.”

That action is called a public safety power shutoff. It’s when an energy company decides to pre-emptively turn off power in high-risk areas.

“We want to make sure that the power lines in particular areas do not pose a risk, and as a result, that’s why we de-energize those lines to mitigate the risk of wildfire,” Rodriguez said.

Xcel Energy serves about 128,000 customers in New Mexico.

But while the shutoff in Tucumcari was minor in comparison, Rodriguez said it’s not a decision they take lightly.

“While it is a small portion, I recognize the challenges that our customers face, especially in an extreme weather event,” he said.

Rodriguez explained the conditions across the state might differ, so where Xcel has already shut off power other energy companies like PNM are considering public safety power shutoffs.

“We’ve never had to go to that level,” said Jeff Buell, director of corporate communications at PNM. “We have seen risks elevate and then subside, fortunately. But we are in the West, and it is as we all know who live out here in the West, and especially the southwest. Dry conditions and wildfires are a fact of life.”

Monday, PNM released a list of areas that could potentially see a public safety power outage. Buell explained forested areas are the ones most at risk, but surrounding areas are also included.

“Not just people who live in in those mountainous areas, but anyone served by the parts of the system that run through those areas could be affected,” Buell said. “So we’ve been working to communicate to all of those customers.”

If you see a knocked over line do not go near it. Call your power company and do what you can to prepare for an outage before it happens. Have enough water, food and medication as public safety power shutoffs and regular power outages can last hours or even days.

The following areas could be impacted by a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) per PNM:

• Clayton
• Cochiti Pueblo
• East Mountains (Sandias)
• Las Vegas
• Mescalero Apache Nation
• Ruidoso
• Santa Fe
• Silver City
• Tesuque Pueblo

If a shutoff is implemented, PNM will contact the information you have on your account online. Call (888) 342-5766 for support or if you see a downed power line. You can also text #ALERT to 78766 for text alerts. To report a power outage, text #OUT to 78766. Click here, for PNM’s latest outages.

Xcel customers can report an outage by texting OUT to 98936, through Xcel’s mobile app, or by calling 1-800-895-1999. Xcel also has a map for current and potential PSPSs. Click here, for Xcel Energy’s outages.