News Release

Nov. 17, 2005

Customers: Use Electric Space Heaters Correctly, Safely

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NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Susan Sponar Telephone: (505) 241-2768

Albuquerque: As temperatures drop and heating bills begin to rise, electric space heaters may be a cost-effective way to keep natural gas bills under control – if used correctly and safely.

Although the trade-off in comfort may be undesirable to some customers, using an electric space heater in small spaces can be cost-effective if the customer turns down the thermostat to a natural gas-fired furnace by several degrees. A 1,500-watt space heater costs 12 cents per hour to operate at current PNM residential electric rates. Running the space heater for four hours per day for a month would cost $14.64.

There are several ways to increase the efficiency and safety of space heaters:

• Other heating systems, including central heating, should be turned down to 62 degrees or lower when the space heater is being used.
• The space heater should be used for personal comfort when the room is occupied, not for general space heating.
• Do not use a space heater when sleeping.
• Avoid running a space heater for more than four hours at a time.
• The occupied room should be closed off from the rest of the house when the space heater is in use.
• Do not use older space heaters that may not meet current safety standards.
• Give portable space heaters at least three feet of clearance from anything that can burn.
• Don’t use an extension cord with electric space heaters; the high amount of current they require could melt the cord and start a fire.
• While space heaters can help offset some costs, natural gas – even at current prices – is still a lower-cost way to heat a home on a whole-home basis.

In addition to using a space heater safely, PNM warns customers not to use ovens, stove burners or outdoor grills for indoor heating. Carbon monoxide produced by outdoor grills is generally not a problem in vented, outdoor areas, but it can quickly become deadly if confined to the inside of a home. Similarly, gas stoves and ranges produce carbon monoxide that can become a problem with prolonged, improper operation – such as use to heat the inside of a home.

For more information on preparing for the winter, visit PNM.com/toolkit.

PNM is the principal subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company based in Albuquerque. PNM provides electric utility service to 419,000 customers and natural gas service to 470,000 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.