PNM Employee Safety

Occasionally, PNM employees or authorized contractors need to come to your home to read your meter, perform work on poles, power lines, transformers, meters, or perform some other service. In some situations, work may also need to be done late at night. Please remember the following safety tips to protect yourself and our employees. 

• If you ever question whether the person is a legitimate representative of PNM, contact us at 888-DIAL-PNM to verify their identity and reason for the visit.
• PNM employees always wear clothing marked with the PNM logo, along with brightly colored safety gear, when the job calls for it. They should have an ID badge with them at all times. Feel free to ask them for identification.
• In some instances, authorized contractors may be working in your area on behalf of PNM. If they do not have an official identification card, ask for their name and the reason for their visit, and you may contact PNM to verify the information. Contractors also typically drive around in clearly marked vehicles for the company they are with.   
• Even the nicest dogs can be aggressive when a stranger comes onto its owner's property. Please enclose your dog away from the backyard area on meter read days, or when work is scheduled on your property.
• Besides dog spray, meter readers carry a dog barrier to keep dogs at bay. Holstered, it looks like an umbrella, but it's much more. When opened, the barrier creates a visual distraction that helps the meter reader get out of harm's way. It is a safe and effective way to keep a dog at a distance. Here's how to identify your meter read date. 
• Posting signs, hanging banners or tying ribbons and balloons on utility poles can endanger PNM employees. The safety boots worn by line workers for climbing poles are especially vulnerable to becoming snagged and caught on staples and nails embedded in poles. Foreign objects can also tear utility workers' clothing or injure workers despite the safety gear they wear to avoid contact with rough surfaces.
   

Help Keep PNM linemen safe

Anytime without power can be frustrating but we want you to know that our crews won't stop working untill all service is restored to those impacted. The safety of our customers and crews is on of our core calues at PNM. If you do see our crews working please do not approach them so they can safely and quickly bring the power back on. If you want updates on outages that impact you, you can sign up for text alerts by texting #ALERT to 78766. This will give you updates and let you kno when your service is restored. 

Clear your meter

Our team works hard to provide you with an accurate and timely utility bill, and we send a bill for the actual amount of electricity you use. This begins with PNM meter readers being able to safely access and read your meter every month. When we cannot read your meter, your usage for that month is estimated. But regulations do not allow us to estimate your usage month after month, so we need your assistance in being able to provide regular readings.

• Take a few minutes to look at the area around your meter and assure that the meter readers have safe and unobstructed access. 
• Locate your meter. Determine there is a safe and direct path to your meter that is free of obstructions such as debris, overgrown trees or bushes.
• Ensure there are no holes or objects in the path to the meter that may cause the reader to trip, slip or fall.
• Make sure your pets are secured where they cannot break loose and bite a meter reader. 

If you do not think you can provide safe and reliable access to your meter every month, please call us at (888) DIAL-PNM (888-342-5766) or learn more about reading your own meter every month.

Recognizing a PNM meter reader

Our meter readers always wear shirts with the PNM logo and a PNM badge is worn at all times. In colder weather, the PNM logo will either be visible on outerwear or on a vest that's worn over outerwear. If you see us at work in your neighborhood, and have a question, please talk to us.

Besides dog spray, meter readers also carry a dog barrier to keep dogs at bay. Holstered, it looks like an umbrella, but it's much more. When opened, the barrier creates a visual distraction that helps the meter reader get out of harm's way. It is a safe and effective way to keep a dog at a distance while also making sure you have dependable power and an accurate bill. If you have pets, you can help by bringing them inside the day your meter is read. Here's how to identify your meter read date.

The photos below show the dog barrier in a holder on the meter reader's waist (top), an what it looks like when the dog barrier is open (bottom).