WITH WINTER ABOUT TO BEGIN, SOME NEW MEXICANS MAY BE WONDERING IF THERE'S A CHANCE WE COULD SEE A DEEP FREEZE LIKE THE ONE THAT HIT IN FEBRUARY OF 2011. THE COLD CAUSED DISRUPTIONS IN NATURAL GAS SUPPLIES, LEAVING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WITHOUT HEAT, MANY IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. ABOUT 19-HUNDRED PNM CUSTOMERS WENT WITHOUT POWER, AND SOME OF THEM HEAT, FOR NEARLY FIVE HOURS WEDNESDAY MORNING WHEN THE POWER WENT OUT IN SEDILLO HILL. THE POWER WAS BACK ON BY 9:15 AM. 

 

PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSIONER DOUG HOWE TELLS US THERE ARE SOME NEW GUIDELINES NOW IN PLACE FOR UTILITIES. GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES NOW MUST HAVE A DEDICATED RESOURCE ON STAFF TO ACT AS A POINT OF CONTACT FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. HE SAYS IN THE 2011 GAS OUTAGE, MANY COMMUNITIES SIMPLY COULDN'T GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEEDED. 

 

THE UTILITIES ARE ALSO NOW REQUIRED TO REPORT ANY OUTAGES IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.