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News Release
July 22, 2005
Monsoon Season Here; Be Prepared
Albuquerque: Thunderstorms are in the forecast and will be there through
New Mexico’s summer storm season.
Because lightning, wind and rain are among the leading causes of electrical
outages, PNM has technology and crews ready to restore power quickly. In fact,
PNM is among the nation's best in electricity reliability - keeping the lights
on - and restores 80 percent of weather-related outages within two hours.
PNM reminds customers to stay safe and informed during outages:
- Call PNM to let us know your power is out: metro Albuquerque, 246-5700;
statewide, (800) 687-7854; or TDD-TTY, 241-4900.
- Do not call 911 unless you have an emergency.
- Turn off or unplug all appliances, electronic equipment and lights except
one. That lamp will be your signal that power is restored.
- Open your refrigerator or freezer only when necessary. This will keep
the food inside colder for a longer period of time.
- If you come across a downed power line, leave it alone. Do not touch the
line. Call PNM immediately.
Additional tips for staying safe during a thunderstorm:
- Stay away from bodies of water, including puddles. Get out of the swimming
pool at the first sign of lightning.
- If you are with other people, stand several yards apart and avoid touching
anyone else. Lightning can strike several people at once, either because
the people are in physical contact or because they are standing close enough
for the strike to travel through the ground.
- If you are in the open, avoid being the tallest object in the area. Crouch
down on the balls of your feet, minimizing your contact with the ground.
- Do not seek shelter under a tree.
- Stay away from fences, telephone lines, power lines, pipelines or steel
fabrications.
- Stop tractor work and heavy construction equipment, especially when pulling
metal equipment, and dismount. Do not seek shelter under the equipment.
- Find shelter or get inside of a car.
- Remember your pets. Doghouses are not protected from lightning. Dogs that
are normally chained to trees or chained to wire runners may be easy targets
for lightning.
- Use only a cordless or cell phone to make calls. Phone use is the leading
cause of indoor lightning injuries in this country.
- Protect your electrical equipment from lightning damage by turning off
computers, TVs, stereos, etc., before a thunderstorm hits.
- Do not touch any electrical equipment; do not attempt to unplug any equipment
or appliances during the storm.
PNM recognizes that power outages can cause inconvenience to customers.
That's why PNM works hard to constantly improve reliability by decreasing
the duration of these outages. PNM keeps the system reliable with its 24-hour-a-day
command center; crews ready around the clock to respond quickly to trouble;
and technology that allows employees to remotely monitor, analyze and correct
many problems on our system.
PNM is the principal subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company
based in Albuquerque, N.M. PNM provides electric utility service to 413,000
customers and natural gas service to 471,000 customers in New Mexico. The company
also sells power on the wholesale market in the Western U.S. PNM Resources
stock is traded primarily on the NYSE under the symbol PNM. For more information,
see the company's Web site at PNM.com.
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