PNM dispatched a team to Texas this weekend to assist with the impact of Hurricane Ike and help restore power to residents of the Gulf Coast region of Texas.

"We sent some very experienced linemen to respond to a request for help from our sister company, and we are prepared to handle nearly any kind of work we're called on to do to assist Texas-New Mexico Power and the residents of the Gulf Coast," said Jeff Nawman, operations manager for PNM. "The crews are heading into an unfamiliar service territory where power poles and lines will likely be down. It can be hazardous and sometimes dangerous work, but we recognize that we have an obligation to be a good corporate citizen, not just to our neighbors in Albuquerque, but residents who live in other states, as well."

Forty-five linemen and 27 utility vehicles departed from PNM's Electric Service Center in Albuquerque at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14. After spending the night in Fort Stockton, Texas, crews anticipate arriving in TNMP's Gulf Coast service area early this evening.

PNM responded to a request for assistance from PNM's sister company, Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP). TNMP is a provider of electrical and transmission distribution services to approximately 115,000 customers in the Gulf Coast region.

This is the eighth mutual assistance response mission for PNM crews, and linemen anticipate assisting TNMP with a wide variety of post-hurricane restoration work, including the replacement of distribution poles and transformers, repairing downed electrical lines, running new services and repairing transmission structures.

After Hurricane Ike hit the Gulf Coast of Texas in the early hours of Sept. 13, TNMP reported that virtually all of its 115,000 customers were without power. As of this morning, TNMP has restored power to an estimated 36,000 business and residential customers, meaning that about 32 percent of TNMP's customers now have power.

TNMP's Gulf Coast service area includes Texas City, Dickinson, League City, Friendswood, Alvin, La Marque, Angleton, Sweeny, West Columbia, Brazoria, Bailey's Prairie, Hillcrest Village and Holliday Lakes.