AMARILLO (March 23, 2024) – Xcel Energy is preparing for high winds this weekend and is operating the electric system in some areas of Texas and New Mexico in a manner intended to enhance public safety and decrease the risk of wildfire.

With the high winds associated with this weather event, damage to electrical equipment and power outages may occur. Outages may be more frequent and last longer than they typically would.

Typically, when there is an issue that causes a power outage on a line, such as a tree branch contacting a power line, equipment on the system will attempt to restore power automatically, usually within a few seconds. Xcel Energy is changing the setting on those systems in many areas to prevent the automatic restoration of power. Instead, crews will patrol the area to ensure it is safe to restore service.

This safety measure means power outages are likely to last longer. Crews are standing by, ready to conduct patrols and restore power when it is safe. In certain limited areas, Xcel Energy may de-energize power lines beginning Sunday as a last resort measure to reduce the risk of a wildfire and ensure public safety.

If a line is proactively de-energized, we will not turn power back on until the high fire risk has passed, conditions are safe to do so, and the line has been visually inspected. Xcel Energy will attempt to communicate with affected customers if a power shut off is necessary.

A small portion of Xcel Energy’s customers may be affected, and the communities in the area that may experience a power shutoff include Roswell, Carlsbad and Monument in New Mexico, and Stinnett, Sanford, Fritch, Lefors, and the Northwest Amarillo Bishop Hills community in Texas.

As a reminder, extreme winds can impact the system causing an outage and does not necessarily mean that a customer has been proactively de-energized.

Customer Preparations

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
• Nonelectric 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

More tips for how to prepare for an outage are available here. To receive timely updates and check on outage status, customers can update their Xcel Energy communication preferences by logging on to the Xcel Energy app or My.XcelEnergy.com.