CONTINUED POWER INTERRUPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH PLAINS
With extreme cold temperatures still gripping the region, Xcel Energy and the electric cooperatives* in the Texas South Plains, Texas Panhandle and eastern and southeastern New Mexico regions have declared a higher Energy Alert level and are urging customers to cut back on their use of electricity.
Extreme cold weather has created energy deficiencies in the Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) region. SPP manages the electric grid across 17 central and western U.S. states and provides energy services on a contract basis to customers in both the Eastern and Western Interconnections. SPP and Xcel Energy declare an Energy Alert only when a reduction in electricity use is urgently needed to maintain the continuity of the electricity system and service to customers.
Suggestions on how reduce electric load include:
- Set thermostats to 68 degrees or lower.
- Suspend use of electrical appliances (dishwashers, washing machines, clothes dryers, vacuum cleaners, etc.)
- Put off tasks at work, if possible, that would demand electricity (power tools, maintenance equipment, etc.).
- Turn off televisions and electronic equipment unless they are necessary to conduct business or to ensure your health and safety.
- Turn off unnecessary lighting, leaving on only enough to move about safely indoors.
Xcel Energy indicates that, if customers do not reduce their use, electricity demand may exceed the amount of electricity the company will be able to supply. Failure to reduce electricity demand could result in controlled electric service interruptions within the region.
To protect the regional grid and maintain reliability, Xcel Energy,
along with area electric co-ops and municipal utilities such as LubbockPower & Light that purchase electricity from Xcel Energy, have been forced to interrupt power to pre-elected electric circuits for up to one hour at a time until system conditions improve.
More than one service interruption may be possible. There is no need to report an outage during a controlled outage event. If customers experience a service interruption of more than one hour they should
contact 1-800-895-999 or report the outage at xcelenergy.com or through the Xcel Energy customer app.
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