PNM is asking customers to help conserve energy

Several days of high temperatures and the continuous use of electricity has put a strain on the electrical grid, and PNM is asking customers to help conserve energy during the hours of 4pm through 8pm, in order to maintain reliability of service and protect the integrity of the electric grid. 

Below are some simple steps that customers are encouraged to take: 

As a reminder, there is never a bad time to save energy. Visit our Energy Efficiency pages for information on programs and tips to help save money and energy throughout the year. 

Frequently asked questions

How does PNM prepare for, or anticipate energy usage of customers during high heat days? 

PNM utilizes an in-depth third-party consulting organization to model potential customer demand increases across the system. We use that information to plan the necessary available resources needed to meet those customer needs. Because the electric grid is interconnected, and PNM follows strict federal guidelines, we work closely with our FERC approved Reliability Coordinator to monitor available energy resources to meet customer demands. 

This type of forecasting is typically very accurate, however, no forecast is perfect, and variations can occur for a variety of reasons, including record heat levels across New Mexico and the entire western region, unavailability of certain resources or transmission capabilities, and market availability of resources across the western grid.  

Why is conserving energy during extreme temperatures important?

Asking customers to conserve energy is an important step to help protect the electric grid from damage caused by stressed/overloaded grid conditions. 

Even though our energy use may vary as individuals, we all collectively put strain on the electric system, and as our usage increases with extreme weather events, so does the stress and strain that our system experiences. 

It is imperative that we all work together in these situations to help decrease stress on our system, so that PNM can preserve the integrity of the grid and minimize service interruptions to customers. 

Working together as a community can be a critical part to contribute to the stability of the power grid and can prevent the need for strategic rotating outages. 

Will this be the only time PNM is asking customers to conserve energy?

There is no guarantee that this will be the only time we encourage customers to conserve energy to help protect the grid. But there is no bad time to conserve energy. Energy savings, especially during peak time periods saves customers energy and money. 

Visit our Energy Efficiency pages for information on programs and tips to help save money and energy throughout the year.