Stay Safe During a Power Outage

Report your outage and sign up for outage alerts so we can let you know by text, email or phone when there's an outage affecting you.

Call 911 if you have an emergency.

Over 530,000 customers depend on us for electricity 24 hours a day, seven days week - whether the sky is blue or the rain clouds are overhead. We are proud to deliver reliable power each day to our customers, but sometimes power outages do occur. Outages can be frustrating and unnerving, but taking steps to be prepared before an outage occurs can help you stay calm and safe while PNM crews work to restore power.  

Preparedness

• Build or restock your emergency preparedness kit, including food, a flashlight, batteries, cash, and first aid supplies.

• Make sure you have alternative charging methods for your phone or any device that requires power, and be sure to charge cell phones and any battery powered devices.
• Know where the manual release lever of your electric garage door opener is located and how to operate it, in case you need to leave your home.
• Keep at least a half tank of gas in your car. Gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps.
• If you or a family member uses medical equipment that requires electricity, talk to a doctor or health care provider about how you can prepare for its use during a power outage.
• For additional tips and information, download the Red Cross Power Outage Checklist.

During an outage

Electrical equipment

• Turn off any appliances (like stoves) and unplug electrical equipment that you were using when the power went out.
• Turn off all lights, except one, so you'll know when power has been restored.
• Unplug or turn off TVs, stereos or game systems.

Food

• Keep refrigerator or freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold.
• Buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for more than four hours.

Inside your home

• Use flashlights for emergency lighting and consider using flameless LED candles because regular candles can cause fires.
• In the summer, it can get very warm when the power is off for a long time. Move to the lowest level of your home, since cool air falls. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Consider going to a movie theater, shopping mall or somewhere else that might not be affected by the outage, that has air conditioning to keep you and your family cool and comfortable.
• In the winter, wear layers of warm clothing. Do not use your oven as a source of heat. If the power may be out for a prolonged period, plan to go to another location (the home of a relative or friend, or a public facility) that has heat to keep warm.

Generator safety

• If you are considering purchasing a generator for your home, consult an electrician or engineer before purchasing and installing.
• Only use generators away from your home and NEVER run a generator inside a home or garage, or connect it to your home's electrical system.

After a power outage

• Restock your emergency kit with fresh batteries, canned foods and other supplies you may have used during an outage.

Fallen power lines

• If you come across a fallen power line, do not touch the line. Do not go near it or anything that is touching it, such as a tree branch, fence or vehicle. Call PNM immediately at 888-DIAL-PNM (888-342-5766).
• Always assume a downed line is energized, even if it's not sparking, arcing, or on fire.
• A downed line can be dangerous even if you're not touching it. Water, metal, tree branches, concrete or other materials touching the wire can conduct electricity to you.
• If a wire falls on your car, call 911 and stay in the vehicle until help arrives and power is shut off. The tires on your car can act as an insulator.
• If a person or animal is in contact with electricity, stay back and call 911 and PNM. DO NOT attempt to help them or touch them because you could get hurt.
• If a line is down on your property, keep children and pets away, call PNM and wait until they arrive to make the scene safe and restore power. 

Understanding how power is restored

During an outage and or/storm, our crews' first priority is to make sure the scene is safe, assess the damage, and then start the restoration efforts. In the case of a major, widespread storm, this assessment may take some time. During this phase, you may see our trucks in your neighborhood as you continue to experience an outage. The information they gather helps us plan our work.

In an outage situation, addressing hazardous situations such as downed wires is priority, as we work on restoring as many customers as we can, as safely and quickly as possible. We also prioritize repairs that restore service to critical facilities such as hospitals, water pumping stations, and police and fire departments.

As we work to restore power to all customers, you may see your neighbor's lights on, while your location remains in the dark. Different parts of a neighborhood may be on different circuits, and not all circuits are restored at the same time. Sometimes, a problem only affects service to your home.

Whenever you experience an outage, please report it by calling 888-DIAL-PNM, or in the Outage Center here on our website. You can also text #OUT to 78766. To register for texts with PNM, text #REG to 78766. Message and data rates may apply.