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Utility staff warns of possible single‑line transmission shutdown by PNM amid high wind, urges public preparedness
Summary
Electric production staff told the board that PNM may take one transmission line serving Los Alamos and the National Laboratory offline during forecast high winds and elevated fire risk. Staff said they do not currently anticipate an outage but will issue public notice and advise residents with critical medical needs to prepare.
Utility electric production staff informed the Board of Public Utilities that PNM (Public Service Company of New Mexico) notified the county this afternoon that it may shut down one transmission line feeding Los Alamos and Los Alamos National Laboratory because of forecast high winds and elevated fire risk.
The notice matters because a transmission‑line outage could increase the risk of service interruptions, and the utility is preparing public messaging and advising vulnerable customers to have contingency plans. Ben of the electric production team briefed the board, saying the decision is driven by wind forecasts and wildfire risk and that PNM is acting out of caution.
Ben told the board: "This afternoon the electric production team was notified that PNM is considering shutting down 1 of the transmission lines that feeds the county and Los Alamos National Lab, primarily due to the high wind conditions that they're expected and forecasted for tomorrow, extending through the morning of the seventh." He emphasized the utility is planning for the possibility and that a public release will be issued if PNM deenergizes the line.
Staff said they do not currently anticipate loss of service to the county under normal conditions but acknowledged that a single‑line outage remains a risk if another unexpected failure occurs. The board asked whether LANL’s onsite generation would be available; staff said LANL’s generation can support prioritized emergency loads but is not sized to replace the transmission line for all services.
Staff said they will notify the public if PNM takes the line offline and recommended that residents who rely on electrically powered medical devices make contingency plans. The board heard no reports of outages at the time of the briefing.
No formal action was required. Utility staff will publish public guidance if the line is taken out of service and continue to coordinate with PNM and LANL.
