Las Cruces woke up in the dark on Wednesday, with more than 10,000 residents suddenly without electricity as dozens of outages popped up across the local utility's online map. The largest clusters were projected to be back online around 1:45 p.m., according to the utility, as crews fanned out around downtown to restore service and figure out what went wrong.
Where outages were concentrated
The brunt of the trouble appeared to hit near East Amador Avenue and North Main Street, where outage markers stacked up on El Paso Electric's online map, according to KFOX14/CBS4. The outlet reported that the map's legend pegged an estimated restoration time around 1:45 p.m., and noted that reporters were still working to confirm what triggered the widespread blackout.
How to report or get updates
El Paso Electric customers can report outages and track real-time restoration estimates through the utility's online outage center. New Mexico customers can also call (575) 523-7591 for help, per El Paso Electric. The company says its outage map and estimated restoration times are updated as field crews confirm repairs.
Local context
Short power cuts tied to weather or equipment problems are nothing new in the area. Nearly 5,000 customers in Las Cruces went dark during a June 2024 outage that was significant enough for the county to open a community center for relief, KVIA reported. Residents are again being reminded to treat any downed lines as dangerous, unplug sensitive electronics where possible, and use extra caution at intersections while crews work to get the lights back on.
