News Release

May 19 , 2006

Stay Cool and Save Money This Summer

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

Albuquerque: Just in time for the summer cooling season, PNM is offering a free DVD loaded with tips to help people save energy and money while staying cool.

“When temperatures go up, energy bills can go up, too. We want to show customers ways to stay comfortable and save money at the same time,” said Terry Horn, PNM vice president of customer and market services.

The PNM DVD offers low-tech but effective tips on keeping your home cool, detailed instructions on swamp cooler and air conditioner maintenance, and water-saving ideas. The DVD also features information about PNM rebates on energy-efficient products for residential natural gas customers. To get a free copy of the DVD, call 246-5700 in the Albuquerque Metro area or 1 (800) 687-7854, toll-free statewide, or log onto PNM.com. The DVD is in English and Spanish.

Simple Tips for Staying Cool

• During the day, close drapes and blinds, particularly on south-facing windows.
• Always turn lights off when leaving a room.
• Use floor and ceiling fans. Fans are more efficient than air conditioners; the average ceiling fan can make a room feel four degrees cooler but use the no more energy than a 100-watt light bulb.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which use 75 percent less energy and last longer.
• Clean the lint traps on dryers. Better yet, dry clothes outside on a clothesline. It costs about 20 cents to dry a load of clothes using a gas dryer, 12 cents for an electric dryer. These costs can add up quickly.
• Weather strip and caulk leaks around windows and doors. Small leaks let cool air escape.
• Set the dishwasher to the air-dry mode to dry dishes, rather than using heat and energy to do it.
• Adding extra attic insulation will keep a home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Both evaporative coolers and air conditioners require regular maintenance at the start of the cooling season and periodic check-ups throughout the season. The PNM DVD provides detailed maintenance information on both types of cooling.

Ways to Save Energy – and Water

Some customers may not realize that saving water saves energy, too, because it takes energy to heat water. To save energy and money while saving water, PNM recommends:

• Turning the faucet off while shaving or brushing teeth;
• Taking showers instead of baths, and keeping those showers short;
• Running dishwashers and washing machines only when full.

There are a variety of energy rebates and government tax incentives available to PNM customers. PNM residential gas customers can get rebates and save money on energy-efficient products and services through the PNM Energy Efficiency Program. For more information, visit PNM.com/rebates or call PNM 1-866-REBATES (1-866-732-2837).

Customers should contact their local government about municipal rebate programs. Both Albuquerque and Rio Rancho offer rebates to encourage water conservation. Federal tax credits are now available for energy efficient products and services. Customers should consult a tax professional to determine if planned purchases or improvements qualify.

PNM is a subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, N.M. PNM provides electric utility service to 424,000 customers and natural gas service to 478,000 customers in New Mexico. The company also sells power on the wholesale market in the West. 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.