AMARILLO, Texas (Mar. 13, 2025) – Xcel Energy is preparing to temporarily shut power off to approximately 17,000 customers in our Texas and New Mexico service area tomorrow morning to reduce wildfire risk. This decision is based on weather forecasts indicating extremely high wind speeds and low relative humidity, in addition to wildfire modeling of fuels on the ground.

Temporarily shutting power off – known as a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) – is a targeted measure of last resort when other methods are not enough to ensure public safety. Customers may be affected in parts of eastern New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and in the South Plains region. The company expects these power outages to begin the morning of Friday, March 14. This extreme weather event may lead to power outages unrelated to the PSPS, given the forecast for strong winds that could damage power lines. We will continue to share updates as conditions evolve.

“Our meteorologists have been closely watching this weather system and understand the critical fire weather risk to our communities,” said Adrian Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas. “We agree with our weather service partners about the historic nature of this event. We're taking the precaution of turning off power in the highest risk areas to keep everyone safe. We know this might be inconvenient, but our top priority is protecting lives and homes during this critical time.”

Xcel Energy is reaching out directly to affected customers, including those who use medical equipment that relies on electricity, to encourage them to prepare for a PSPS and for other outages related to severe weather. Customers can look up their address online to find out if they may be subject to the PSPS event. They can also check the status of outages on the Xcel Energy outage map.

Once the high winds die down and it is safe to begin work to restore power, it may take several hours to days for customers’ power to be restored because a crew must patrol the entire power line to ensure it’s safe for that power line to be re-energized. Crews are positioned to begin restoration efforts as quickly as possible once conditions have improved and it is safe for them to begin inspecting power lines. Xcel Energy has brought in several dozen additional crew members from Colorado to help during this weather event.

Xcel Energy will continue to share updates as the situation develops on this dedicated event web page, and provide the current status of outages via the electric service outage map.

Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings are active across our New Mexico and Texas service area, which means that power lines are more sensitive and can stop the flow of energy if an issue is detected, such as a tree branch touching the line. In those cases, power will remain off until our crews can make sure it’s safe to turn it back on. These settings are intended to improve public safety during heightened risk conditions, but it means power outages are likely to last substantially longer than typical outages.

Important tools for Xcel Energy customers

Customers can visit our PSPS Event website to stay up to date.

The website includes a PSPS map that customers can use to look up their address to find out whether they may experience a PSPS.

The status of current outages is tracked on the electric service outage map.

Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings activated

Due to the elevated risk of wildfire, Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) are active across our Texas and New Mexico service territory.

When EPSS is activated, power lines can stop the flow of energy if an issue is detected, like a tree branch or other object touching the line.

EPSS does not mean the company has proactively turned off a customer’s power. If there is an outage while these settings are activated, it is the result of an issue on the power line.

Power will remain off until our crews can visually inspect power lines to make sure it is safe to turn them back on. This may mean that if an outage occurs, it could last longer.

Both EPSS and PSPS are only used when temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and other available fuel sources indicate a high risk for wildfire. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to take steps to reduce wildfire risk and keep our communities safe.

How customers can prepare, stay safe

Stay Informed

If other weather-related outages occur, it’s important for customers to have access to the most recent updates about their power restoration. Customers should make sure their account information and communications preferences are up to date through the Xcel Energy website.

The website hosts an outage map that displays information on the number of customers out and anticipated time for restoration when available. Customers can also stay informed by following Xcel Energy’s Texas Facebook, New Mexico Facebook, Texas X and New Mexico X.

Customers can also visit the PSPS Event website for more information.

Build a Home Emergency Kit

Customers are encouraged to be prepared for an electric outage by keeping phones and other devices charged and building an outage kit with items that do not require electricity, including:

Battery-powered radio

Flashlights

Batteries

Backup phone chargers

A phone that does not require electricity

Non-electric alarm clock

Bottled water and non-perishable food

Manual can opener

First aid kit

Extension cords (for partial outages)

Manufacturer’s instructions on how to manually open power-operated doors (e.g. garage doors)

Xcel Energy phone numbers – (800) 895-1999 for residential or (800) 481-4700 for business

As an important reminder to customers who have medical equipment that relies on electric service, please take steps to prepare a backup power supply in case outages do occur. We will be contacting known medical customers in the area directly to inform them about forecasted severe weather and potential impacts.

We are continually investing in and building out our systems to reduce the risk of wildfire and limit the size, scale and duration of potential power disruptions. More tips for how to prepare for an outage are available here.

Report an Outage

Customers can help Xcel Energy get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages. Customers have several ways to report outages:

Through the Xcel Energy mobile app, available in the Apple App Store and through Google Play.

Online at xcelenergy.com/outage.

Via text by texting OUT to 98936 to report an outage, or text STAT to the same number to check the status of a power outage

By calling 1-800-895-1999 and following the prompts—the automated phone reporting system lets customers report outages in less than 60 seconds.