AMARILLO, Texas (June 14, 2023) – Xcel Energy is ready to meet the energy needs of its Texas and New Mexico customers as temperatures and electricity demand rise this summer.

“We continuously monitor weather forecasts, electricity supply projections and other factors to ensure reliability and minimize the risk of disruption for our customers during periods of peak demand,” said Adrian J. Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy – New Mexico, Texas. “We’re in a good position to meet our customers’ needs with the electricity we generate at our own power plants and electricity available from the larger regional grid.”

Xcel Energy’s service territory in Texas is not part of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the company’s New Mexico communities are separate from the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) grid. The company’s Texas and New Mexico system is part of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), which oversees the reliability of a transmission network covering all or portions of 14 states and operates a wholesale power market. The SPP marketplace facilitates the sale and purchase of electricity to ensure cost-effective power reliability, in addition to serving as the “balancing authority” responsible for balancing supply and demand – ensuring enough generation is available to reliably supply electricity now and in the future.

“As part of our shared responsibility through the Southwest Power Pool, if emergency conditions arise, our customers could be asked to conserve energy or, in an extreme situation, experience controlled power outages to help reduce energy use on the larger regional grid,” Rodriguez said. “However, we do not expect to need controlled outages this summer.

 On particularly hot days, Xcel Energy may ask customers to help reduce demand on the regional electric grid by conserving energy. Customers can also save on their bills by conserving energy and participating in energy efficiency programs. “We have invested in the reliability of our system by adding new lines and substations to free up capacity to serve a growing demand for electricity, but hot weather can present unique challenges that remind us to never take anything for granted,” Rodriguez said. “Our customers can be assured we’re prepared and able to respond quickly and effectively in the case of any system emergency.”

Xcel Energy ready to meet summer power needs. In addition to building new lines and substations to improve system reliability, Xcel Energy completed several maintenance and improvement projects on its power plants over the fall and winter months when energy demand was lower

 Rodriguez pointed out that power costs have declined since last summer thanks to a reduction in the price of natural gas used to generate about 30% of the region’s power needs. Customers can extend those cost savings by using electricity more efficiently, which in turn helps Xcel Energy better manage increases in demand. Information and tips on steps customers can take to reduce energy use and save on monthly bills is available at xcelenergy.com.

Customers can take further steps toward ongoing savings by having their homes tested for air leaks that can make cooling and heating units less efficient and more costly to operate. Area energy efficiency contractors perform the testing for Xcel Energy and make energy-saving improvements free of charge. A list of approved contractors can be accessed on the Energy Efficiency Services page at xcelenergy.com.