A public safety power shutoff, or a “PSPS”, is something new as power companies more fully recognize how power lines can cause potentially devastating wildfires, as in the case of the McBride Fire in Ruidoso.

Due to the extreme weather conditions and increased wildfire risk, PNM is considering a public safety shutoff in areas in New Mexico on Thursday. The areas will include the East Mountains, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas. Bernalillo County is also on standby.

Executives said outages could affect the City Different, the East Mountains area and Las Vegas, N.M., into Friday morning.