Electric companies say they're prepped for summer

The electric companies that serve Curry and Roosevelt Counties are ready for summer demands on their systems.

“From a planning standpoint, we have more than enough generating capacity to meet the expected demand while maintaining a healthy reserve margin,” Wes Reeves said. Reeves is senior media relations representative with Xcel Energy at their Amarillo office.

Reeves wrote via news release and email Xcel is well connected with the rest of the Southwest Power Pool and has the ability to import energy beyond what our regional fleet can produce.

“Likewise, we’ve invested heavily in the power lines and substations needed to move power where it needs to go. If there is an unforeseen event that could disrupt the supply and distribution of electricity, we are prepared for these contingencies,” Reeves wrote.

Reeves noted conservation plays a part in safeguards.

“We could still ask our customers to conserve electricity if we have regional supply or distribution issues on high demand days. And while service disruptions are usually brief, it’s always a good thing for our customers to be prepared for outages that might take longer to restore,” Reeves wrote.

“We encourage customers to use the ‘My Account’ feature at xcelenergy.com and to download the free customer app so they have access to information about their service at all times,” Reeves wrote.

Adrian Rodriguez, president of Xcel Energy – New Mexico Texas, wrote in a news release, “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,”

He added, “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.”

Rodriguez pointed out Xcel Energy’s service territory in New Mexico is separate from the Western Electricity Coordinating Council grid and Xcel’s Texas territory is not part of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

Also, the company’s Texas and New Mexico system is part of the Southwest Power Pool, which oversees the reliability of a transmission network covering all or portions of 14 states and operates a wholesale power market.

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.

Farmer’s Electric Co-op’s director of member services Thom Moore said the short answer to whether FEC is prepared for summer is “Yes.”

“We are as prepared as we can be. However, the short answer doesn’t usually tell the whole story. The strain on the electric grid locally, regionally, and nationally is real, particularly during very hot and dry weather events,” Moore said.

Moore points out the most critical time during periods of high heat is between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., typically the hottest part of the day.

“FEC buys our wholesale power from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative headquartered in Moore, Oklahoma. Approximately 40% comes from renewable resources including wind, hydro, and solar. That’s all well and good until energy from those renewable sources, particularly wind and solar which are intermittent in nature, fail to meet the peak demand,” Moore said.

Moore notes if things did become critical, making necessary rolling blackouts or other planned outages, electric customers should assume their power could go out without advanced warning.

Moore listed things consumers can do to reduce electric load during peak times:

• Set thermostats at 78 degrees or higher – every degree of extra cooling could increase energy usage six to eight percent.

• Use ceiling fans and portable fans to circulate air.

• Close interior blinds, drapes, or curtains to block the sun and heat.

• Use clotheslines instead of the dryer.

• Try to save household chores such as cooking, laundering, and dishwashing for early morning or evening hours.

“Regardless of the nature of a possible load-shed event, FEC is committed to ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of power to its member-consumers 24-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week,” Moore said.

Moore said if there is a loss of power, FEC “will do everything in our power to restore electricity when we are able to safely do so.”

Roosevelt County Electric Cooperative supplies electricity to all of Roosevelt County outside of Portales along with parts of Chaves, Curry and DeBaca counties.

Janice Castillo, member services manager for the cooperatives, said, “We are good for the summer. Our guys are out there handling the storms. They’re taking care of business as usual.”