New Notifications Help New Mexicans Prepare
Wildfire risk in New Mexico isn't a maybe. It's a reality that grows more urgent each year as hotter, drier, and windier conditions stretch far beyond the traditional fire season. For PNM, keeping your lights on has always been a top priority. But in today's reality of unpredictable severe weather, preventing catastrophic wildfires has become just as important.
That's why we've created a new tool for our community. Notifications to let you know when wildfire conditions could lead to power outages. It's designed to give our customers a clearer picture of wildfire situations, more time to get ready, and more peace of mind when extreme weather forces tough choices about power.
Why Notifications Matter
A Public Safety Power Shutoff is a temporary shutoff of power in certain areas to prevent electrical equipment from sparking a wildfire that threatens property and public safety.
No one wants to lose electricity, and PNM never makes a decision like this without great care and deliberation. But in severe fire conditions, a PSPS can be the safest option.
The key is communication. When you know what's comingand whyyou can prepare. That's what we want for our customers, and this new notification system provides you with that clarity through three distinct stages of notification:
-
Watch:
Conditions are being monitored. Wildfire risk is elevated, but no action yet. Power outages due to weather are possible.
-
Advisory:
Conditions are becoming more severe. Customers should be ready for the possibility of a shutoff.
-
Warning:
A shutoff is imminent, typically within hours.
A Test of Readiness
Powerful windstorms tore across New Mexico this past March. Trees toppled, power lines strained, and thousands of customers lost electricity.
PNM saw this as a sobering reminder of what's at stake. We saw high winds and low humidity conditions like we've come to expect during peak wildfire season. And that's a growing concern because these patterns are no longer limited to the summer.
In several High Fire Risk Areas (HFRAs), PNM came close to initiating a PSPS. Instead, our crews manually shut down some automated switches known as reclosers to prevent sparks. It was a proactive choice that made power outages more likely but prevented a dangerous situation from becoming worse.
In Las Vegas, PNM actually did implement a PSPS that affected about 2,300 customers. These experiences underscored the need for a stronger, clearer notification system.
How the Notification System Works
The new notification process is modeled on National Weather Service standards, using Watch, Advisory, and Warningjust as you're accustomed to hearing for severe weather events.
Here's how it keeps you aware:
- 5 days ahead: We're monitoring forecasts; notifying local governments, tribes, emergency officials, hospitals, and first responders.
- 2 days ahead: You'll see broad communication through social media, PNM.com, and news outlets. And if you are in a potentially affected area, you'll receive a Watch notification directly from PNM.
- 1 day ahead: Customers receive an Advisory notification with details via SMS, phone, and email.
- Day of: Customers receive Warning notifications are sent before power is turned off.
Balancing Safety and Reliability
The hardest decision PNM makes is to turn off power. On one hand, doing nothing risks a wildfire. On the other, shutting off electricity can affect hospitals, water systems, communication networks, and households with medical needs.
This is why coordination with first responders and local agencies is built into the PSPS process. Together, PNM and emergency managers review community hazard plans, identify Community Resource Centers (CRCs), and stage resources where they'll be needed most.
It's also why the notifications matter so much. They help you, your families, and your businesses prepare for extended outages, depending on weather conditions and the time it takes to inspect and repair lines.
The Human Effort Behind the Notifications
While the system is automated in part, it also relies on human judgment. Field crews play a critical roleinspecting lines before restoration, keeping eyes on the ground when weather turns volatile, and disabling reclosers when conditions demand. (Reclosers are devices that automatically attempt to restore power after a fault is detected, such as when a branch or debris make momentary contact with a power line).
Disabling some reclosers can't be done from a desk. On some parts of the electric system it's a manual process that calls on expert field crews: trained people in tough environments, often in the middle of the night, making judgment calls based on real-time conditions.
The new notification system amplifies their work, turning those decisions into clear, timely communication for customers like you.
A Shared Responsibility to Be Prepared
It's important for all of us to agree that wildfire safety is a shared effort. You have an important role to play in readiness, and we hope you'll take these simple steps:
- Update your contact information at PNM.com so you don't miss notifications.
- Charge phones and medical devices when a Watch or Advisory is issued.
- Check on vulnerable neighbors who may need extra support.
- Have an emergency kit ready: flashlights, batteries, water, medications, and cash.
- Plan for medical needs with backup options if your care relies on electricity.
Households can also enroll in LifeWatch a free service that provides additional outage notifications for households with powered medical dependencies. LifeWatch also provides an notification to an additional family member or caregiver so they can be aware and available to help.
Addressing Community Impacts
A PSPS doesn't just affect homes. It can also disrupt critical systems we all need:
- Hospitals and clinics may need backup generators.
- Water and wastewater systems depend on pumps that require electricity.
- Emergency shelters and communication networks must be prepared for extended outages
That's why PNM collaborates directly with local emergency management, tribal governments, and state agencies. By planning together, they can ensure resources are in place where they're needed most.
The Frustration Factor
No matter how clear the notifications are, outages remain disruptive. Customers may lose refrigerated food, experience discomfort in extreme heat or cold, or be forced to adjust work and family routines.
We acknowledge these frustrationswe'll be living them, too. But we can't ignore what's at stake. As disruptive as a PSPS might be, we're working against the weather to try and prevent the kind of fast-moving wildfire that destroys homes, displaces families, and endangers lives.
The notification system doesn't make shutoffs painless, but it does make them more predictable. And that predictability helps our families and communities adapt.
Moving Toward a Safer Future
The launch of the new notification system is part of a broader wildfire risk reduction strategy. Alongside vegetation management, stronger coordination with first responders, and infrastructure hardening, it represents another step toward making New Mexico safer.
In this continuing effort, PNM will keep refining the system, seeking feedback from communities, and evaluating each PSPS event to improve future performance.
Protecting What We Share
Right now, we live under the risk of unpredictable severe weather. And with conditions this volatile, the stakes are higher than ever.
That's why the new notifications are more than just messages on your phone. They're part of a community-wide effort to stay safetogether.
TogetherWatch as conditions are being monitored. Wildfire risk is elevated, but no action yet.
TogetherAdvisory is when conditions are becoming more severe. Be ready for the possibility of a shutoff.
TogetherWarning tells you a shutoff may be imminent, generally within hours.
By staying informed, planning ahead, and supporting one another, New Mexicans can weather the threat of wildfire with the resilience and resolve that defines what we're all about
For more resources, visit pnm.com/wildfire-safety
And sign up for notifications by texting #REG to 78766.
