 in the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico starting Feb 17 due to extreme wildfire conditions.){kind=link}
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — Minnesota-based Xcel Energy is preparing for critical wildfire conditions in the northern Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico. The company warned customers that it may implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) as early as 9 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, February 17.
The wildfire risk, according to the company, has significantly increased due to the weather conditions two months into the year. Northern Texas and eastern New Mexico are experiencing warm and dry weather with strong winds, low humidity, and very dry vegetation.
“If extreme conditions materialize on Tuesday, shutting off power in specific high-risk areas may be necessary to protect public safety,” said Adrian J. Rodriguez, president of Xcel Energy–Texas, New Mexico, in a statement. “We are closely monitoring the forecast and will keep customers informed as the situation develops.”
A PSPS is a preventive measure shutting off electricity temporarily in high-risk areas to reduce the potential of the power lines of sparking wildfires during severe weather.
The company said strong winds could also damage power lines and trigger unscheduled outages.
Monitor and check
The company has already prepositioned its crews and equipment to respond and restore service once conditions are safe.
Affected customers will be notified as soon as possible once a PSPS is implemented. Xcel Energy is also urging customers with electrically powered medical equipment to prepare backup power sources.
It will take several days after severe weather subsides for company crews to inspect each power line to restore power, the company said.
Xcel Energy’s online outage map and PSPS event website can help customers monitor outages and check whether they are in a potential PSPS zone.
Vulnerable
The northern Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico are vulnerable to wildfires. These areas have a combination of geography, climate, and seasonal weather patterns. Both regions sit on the southern Great Plains, where the terrain is largely flat and open, offering few natural windbreaks.
In eastern New Mexico, officials have already expressed concern over the little rain the area is getting.
Officials anticipated high potential of fire activity in eastern New Mexico for this spring, said Emery Veilleux of the State Forestry Division.
Veilleux said they’re already concentrating on problem areas as the condition worsens.
Enhanced safety settings activated
Weather forecasts, however, do not currently indicate the need for a PSPS on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday. But the company said its Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) will remain active during the period.
Under EPSS, power lines shut off automatically if it detects a problem, such as debris striking a wire.
The company said both PSPS and EPSS are used only when weather conditions and other factors such as temperature, wind speed, humidity, and vegetation dryness signal increased wildfire risk.
Xcel Energy urged customers to update their contact information and prepare emergency kits with non-electric essentials. The company also urged customers who depend on medical equipment to secure backup power supplies.