Font ResizeLAS CRUCES - After a day of record-cold weather, a layer of snowfall that has since turned slushy and a series of rolling power outages attributed to a demand overload, you're probably wondering what's next.
Do your kids have school today? Can you expect city offices to be open for business? Are road closures planned?
El Paso Electric Co. officials appealed Wednesday afternoon to schools and local governments, asking them to remain closed today to help relieve an expected electricity shortage, thanks to cold weather that was likely to continue.
Following the appeal, several entities announced decisions to extend their closures through today. Others said they won't make that determination until this morning, possibly as early as 5 a.m.
Here's a look at what to expect.
El Paso Electric Co.
The electric company is anticipating rolling outages to continue today as it works to bring two power plants back online, said Teresa Souza, El Paso Electric Co. spokeswoman.
"We're encouraging customers to continue curtailing their usage," she said.
The company's Rio Grande and Newman power-generation plants were down Wednesday evening. There was not an estimate about when they'd be restored, but the company is seeking electricity from outside sources, she said.
"When our demand exceeds our generation capacity, that's when we have to shut certain parts of our system down to prevent the system from shutting down altogether," Souza said.
Though temperatures
The rolling outages were lasting between 30 minutes and an hour on Wednesday.
Souza urged the public to curtail use of washing machines, dishwashers, electric clothes dryers, lights, electric water heaters and other electric appliances that aren't absolutely necessary.
Interstate highways and state roads
Officials were bracing for poor road conditions this morning. There was a slight chance for more snow to fall Wednesday night, but even if that doesn't happen, the partially melted remnants of earlier precipitation are likely to freeze over.
The state highway department will await word from state police, who make the call about individual road closures, said Megan Arredondo, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Department of Transportation.
Regardless, she said, road crews will be at work early.
"They'll be out sanding, salting and plowing as needed," she said.
She said any closures, once known, are posted immediately on the agency's road conditions website at www.nmroads.com.
Las Cruces Public Schools
All Las Cruces schools will be closed for the day, said district spokesman Michael Cook.
"At the request of El Paso Electric, we will not have school," he said.
Cook said updates will continue today on the school's website.
New Mexico State University
The NMSU main campus, as well as Do-a Ana Community College, are closed again today, said Minerva Baumann, spokeswoman for the university.
Look for information on the NMSU website, www.nmsu.edu.
White Sands Missile Range
The range said it would monitor weather throughout Wednesday night and check road conditions, said Monte Marlin, WSMR spokeswoman.
"Range officials will make a decision very, very early in the morning," she said.
Employees travel from Alamogordo, Las Cruces and El Paso.
Wednesday's closure was decided around 4:30 that morning, she said. Such decisions are typically made by 5 a.m.
The best place for information is the installation's website, www.wsmr.army.mil, or its public affairs Facebook page, Marlin said. However, the announcement also will be disseminated to area media outlets.
City of Las Cruces
City of Las Cruces offices, too, are closed, said spokesman Udell Vigil.
There's no trash pickup today, he said. Plus, all juvenile citation program offices are closed, and the program's classes have been canceled.
Emergency services personnel will remain on duty.
Roadrunner Transit service is canceled for the day.
Do-a Ana County
Do-a Ana County offices are closed today because of expected hazardous driving conditions and to help alleviate power demand, County Manager Brian Haines announced Wednesday afternoon.
Law enforcement, emergency services and detention staff will continue work, but administrative personnel are not required to come to work, according to a county news release.
The county's Emergency Operations Center, which coordinates response in emergency situations, will remain activated.
A board meeting of the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley that was slated for this morning has been rescheduled, officials said.
Gadsden Independent School District
The district was expected to make a decision early this morning about whether to call a two-hour delay, an outright cancellation or a normal school day, said Deputy Superintendent Efren Yturralde.
Considerations include the staff and students who travel daily over the Anthony Gap on N.M. Highway 404, he said. Other concerns are students who'd have to walk to school and wait at bus stops in freezing weather and the availability of a steady supply of electricity.
"Our No. 1 concern is the safety and comfort of the students and our staff people," he said.
Yturralde said the district notifies administrators and principals via a calling tree. Plus, it contacts local media with updates.
Some 14,000 students and another 1,200 staff make up the district.
State offices
Look for announcements on the State Personnel Office website about today's work day at www.spo.state.nm.us.
Diana M. Alba can be reached at (575) 541-5443.
Who to call?
•In case of emergency in Las Cruces or Dona Ana County, call 911.
•For the city of Las Cruces, visit www.las-cruces.org or call (575) 541-2100.
•For non-emergency calls to Las Cruces police, call (575) 526-0795.
•For Las Cruces Public Schools, visit www.lcps.k12.nm.us or call (575) 647-5277.
•For Gadsden schools, visit www.gisd.k12.nm.us or call (575) 882-6267.
•For White Sands Missile Range's schedule, visit www.wsmr.army.mil.
•For Do-a Ana County, visit www.donaanacounty.org or call (575) 647-7200.
•For weather and road conditions, visit www.nmshtd. state.nm.us or dial 511.
