Power Lines

POWER LINES Power lines Electric and magnetic fields Joint use Contact PNM PNM systems

Power lines provide the vital link between power plants that produce electricity and the homes and businesses that rely on electricity every day of the year. PNM owns and maintains about 17,400 miles of power lines within New Mexico.

Transmission lines (left) account for about 16 percent of that total. High-voltage lines, usually carrying electricity at either 115 or 345 kilovolts, bring electricity from power plants to substations in cities and towns. The transmission network is a highly complex and integrated network that works well because it has been carefully designed and constructed according to strict operating standards. PNM's transmission network is connected to the larger grid serving the entire western United States so that power can be moved quickly in case of an emergency.

Distribution lines are smaller lines, carrying electricity from substations into and throughout neighborhoods everywhere. Many of these distribution lines run behind homes and businesses. In newer neighborhoods, distribution lines often are buried rather than installed on overhead poles.

Substations play a critical role in the delivery of electricity. Substations in and near neighborhoods, along with transformers along a line, decrease the voltage for delivery to homes and businesses, typically at either 120 or 240 volts. Most household appliances run off of 120-volt power, while larger appliances, such as electric dryers and stoves, require 240-volt power.