Thousands of residents across New Mexico are currently without electricity, as widespread power outages impact Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas. The Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) reported Thursday morning that nearly 53,000 customers within its service area were affected, with crews actively working to restore power as quickly as possible.
The outages, which began earlier in the morning, are impacting homes, businesses, and public services across the affected cities. The interruption has created disruptions in daily routines and forced some schools and businesses to close or operate under limited capacity. With temperatures starting to dip, many households are facing additional challenges as they seek ways to stay warm until power is fully restored.
As of midday Thursday, PNM crews have restored power to a portion of affected customers, but the company has cautioned that full restoration may take time as they continue assessing the extent of the outages. The company has not yet confirmed the specific cause but is investigating possible factors, including weather conditions and potential technical issues within the power grid.
Residents in Albuquerque and Santa Fe have been advised to exercise caution and to avoid downed power lines that may be present in some neighborhoods. In Rio Rancho and Las Vegas, authorities are urging residents to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel while PNM crews work to repair affected lines and restore electricity.
Local emergency services are on standby to assist those in need, with shelters prepared to offer temporary relief for residents facing extended outages. PNM has set up a tracking map on its website, enabling customers to monitor the restoration progress in real-time, providing updates on which neighborhoods and areas are expected to regain power first.
For many, the situation remains challenging as crews continue working to restore service to the remaining thousands who are still without electricity. PNM has emphasized that its top priority is safely restoring power to all impacted communities as swiftly as possible.