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News Release
Sept. 7, 2005
PNM, TNMP Customers and Employees Exceed Katrina Relief Goal
Albuquerque: PNM and Texas-New Mexico Power Co. (TNMP) customers and
employees proved their compassion and generosity by helping raise more than
$150,000 for American Red Cross hurricane relief efforts through a challenge
match from the parent company, PNM Resources.
"We are very pleased by this heartfelt response, but we're not at all
surprised," said Jeff Sterba, PNM Resources Chairman, President and CEO. "We
are fortunate to live and do business in communities that time and again step
forward to assist those in need."
Last Wednesday afternoon PNM Resources announced it would match up to $75,000
in customer and employee contributions. Three business days later, donations
have exceeded that amount and more continue to come in. The company is still
adding up hundreds of mailed-in donations and expects to announce a total later
this week.
In addition to the fundraising effort, PNM and TNMP line crews were dispatched
to the area, where they have been working to help restore power in the hurricane-ravaged
region. Nearly 30 PNM employees are working to replace a line just south of
New Orleans that provides power to a critical industrial area. Meanwhile, TNMP
crews continue their work to restore power to residential areas of Gulfport,
Miss.
Work in the field requires 17-hour days and, for many of the employees, sleeping
on simple cots.
"This is testing our skills and knowledge like never before – and
it's absolutely rewarding," said PNM's Mark Martinez, who is in Louisiana.
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