DPU warns of possible PNM transmission‑line shutoff during high winds; limited outage risk but residents urged to prepare

County electric production staff notified the Board of Public Utilities that PNM had indicated a possibility of shutting down one transmission line serving Los Alamos during forecast high winds and elevated fire risk.

An electric production staffer said the potential outage stems from PNM’s operational decisions to reduce wildfire ignition risk during high‑wind events; that agency told the county it may take a line out of service tomorrow through the morning of March 7 as strong winds and a heightened fire index are forecast. The staff member said the county is “planning for it,” and that while a single transmission line can carry the local load under typical conditions, the county cannot rule out an outage if an unplanned event or additional failures occur.

Staff said they planned a public notice to advise residents, stressed that the county does not expect an immediate outage in routine conditions, and recommended that medically dependent residents and others with critical electrical needs prepare contingency plans. The staffer noted Los Alamos National Laboratory has onsite generation for prioritized loads but that the laboratory’s backup generation is not sized to make the community whole in a prolonged large outage.

No action was required of the board; the briefing was informational and focused on preparedness and outreach.