By Hannah Grover
Editor’s note: This story has been updated throughout the day with the latest closures and updates from PNM and local officials. Check back often for the latest.
The Public Service Company of New Mexico had plans to shut off power to 10,000 customers in the East Mountains at noon Thursday due to high wind conditions that could make utility equipment more likely to start a fire.
By late afternoon, PNM announced it no longer plans to implement a Public Safety Power Shutoff as “the intensity of the storm appears to be lower than forecasted in the East Mountains.”
Michael Mertz, senior vice president of operations, announced plans for the possible shutoff during a media briefing Thursday morning.
While PNM initially planned to shut off power to the Santa Fe, Cochiti Lake, and Las Vegas areas, officials say that will also not happen. However, PNM is making changes to the system to prevent lines from re-energizing if the power is interrupted.
As the conditions changed in ways that allowed PNM to forego the public safety power shutoff, the East Mountains system will also be altered so that lines do not reenergize if power is interrupted.
The Sandoval County Office of Emergency Management confirmed Thursday afternoon that the power shut-off would have also affected the East Mountains portion of the county.