Electricity Blackout Affects Thousands (New Mexico)

Dec. 30, 2003
RUIDOSO, N.M.

A 115,000-volt transmission line went dead, causing an electrical blackout affecting up to 18,000 customers of two utilities mainly in Lincoln County.

The blackout began at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, and electricity was restored to most customers within six hours. Electricity was flowing to all customers by Monday morning.

"We're sure glad it's back on," said Jim Bassett, public information coordinator for the Texas-New Mexico Power Co.

An emergency shelter was opened in Ruidoso for people affected by the cold, and two or three families came in briefly, Bassett said.

The blackout affected about 12,000 Texas-New Mexico Power customers in Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs, he said.

It also affected about 5,000 or 6,000 customers of the Otero County Electric Cooperative, said Terry Buttram, the co-op's operations manager.

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