October 2026 Energy Works Newsletter

Employees Power Communities Through Day of Service

Every year, PNM employees step away from their daily work and spend a day giving back to the communities they call home.

This year's Day of Service brought together employees supporting 26 nonprofit organizations across New Mexico. Whether helping prepare community spaces, beautifying neighborhoods, or tackling much-needed projects, employees rolled up their sleeves to support organizations working to improve lives throughout our state.

For many employees, Day of Service is one of the highlights of the year. It's a chance to connect with coworkers, meet the people behind the organizations serving our communities, and see firsthand the difference a few hours can make.

The commitment to giving back extends well beyond a single day. In 2025, PNM employees contributed 8,695 volunteer hours supporting local causes and organizations throughout the communities we serve.

At PNM, supporting strong communities is about more than providing electricity. It's about showing up, lending a hand, and investing in the people and organizations that help New Mexico thrive.

Working Together for Wildfire Safety and Reliable Power

Hot, dry, and windy conditions can increase wildfire risk, especially when trees and vegetation grow too close to power lines. That's why PNM performs ongoing vegetation management to help reduce outages, improve reliability, and support wildfire prevention.

Customers can help too:

Plant Smart: Choose the right tree for the right location and always call 811 before digging.
Clear Debris: Remove dry leaves, grass, and debris from yards and gutters.
Trim Safely: If vegetation is near power lines, contact PNM for an inspection before pruning.
Report Hazards: Call 911 in an emergency, then report trees contacting power lines or other electrical hazards to 888-DIAL-PNM.
Stay Away from Downed Lines: Always assume a downed power line is energized and dangerous.

By working together, we can help reduce wildfire risk and keep our communities safe year-round.

Fall into winter savings

Cooler weather is on the way, making now the perfect time to weatherize your home and lower winter energy costs. A few simple upgrades can improve comfort and help reduce energy use throughout the season.

Start by adjusting your thermostat. Lowering the temperature when you're asleep or away can reduce heating costs, while regularly replacing furnace filters helps your heating system run more efficiently.

Next, seal drafts around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk. Small air leaks can lead to significant heat loss. Opening south-facing window coverings during the day and closing them at night can also help capture and retain warmth naturally.

Don't forget your water heater. Setting it no higher than 125°F, insulating older units, and wrapping exposed hot water pipes can help reduce energy waste.

By taking a few low-cost weatherization steps this fall, you can stay more comfortable, improve your home's efficiency, and keep winter energy bills in check.

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Understanding Billing Changes

Your electric bill can tell you a lot about how energy is being used in your home. It includes helpful details like your billing period, meter readings, total electricity usage, and a history of your energy consumption. Taking a quick look at these sections each month can help you better understand your energy habits and spot changes in your usage over time.

If your bill seems higher or lower than expected, there is often a simple reason. For example, this summer brought periods of unusually hot weather across much of the country, including New Mexico. Locally, sustained hot temperatures meant air conditioners and other cooling equipment had to work harder and run longer, increasing electricity use for many of our customers. That increased usage can result in a higher bill and comparing the usage shown on your bill with the same period last year can help you better understand how your energy use has changed.

Sometimes, if a meter cannot be read as scheduled, your bill may be based on an estimate. Once an actual meter reading is collected, your account is updated to reflect your true energy use, which could result in a higher or lower bill. Reviewing your meter reading type and billing dates can often help explain unexpected changes

You may also notice small differences in your bill throughout the year due to seasonal rate changes. Summer rates are slightly higher because electricity demand typically increases during the hottest months. These rates help support the ongoing maintenance and improvements needed to keep the electric system reliable and ready to serve customers when demand is at its highest.

Want to better understand what you see on your bill? Visit pnm.com/definitions for an explanation of common terms and information found on your PNM bill.

Understand Your Bill