FORT WORTH, Texas — Sept. 21, 2005 — Texas-New Mexico Power Co., which provides electrical transmission and distribution services to approximately 105,000 customers in the Gulf Coast region, is prepared to respond to the likely impacts of Hurricane Rita.

TNMP is advising customers in this region to be prepared to be without electricity for at least two weeks.

TNMP’s emergency operations plan will restore power as quickly as possible in the event of an outage. Key facilities such as hospitals, water treatment plants and public service facilities will receive top priority for power restoration, followed by major lines and circuits servicing large numbers of customers.

TNMP has tree trimming crews on standby to be deployed quickly after the hurricane strikes. TNMP line crews from other service areas will be available to assist in restoration efforts. In addition, line crews from TNMP’s sister company, PNM in New Mexico, are on standby to be deployed to the affected region if necessary.

To report electrical outages, customers should call TNMP at (888) 866-7456 if they live in and around Texas City, Dickinson, League City, Friendswood, Alvin, La Marque, Angleton, Sweeny and West Columbia.

The company is recommending the following to people who could be affected by the hurricane:

• Avoid all downed lines. It is difficult to distinguish between power, cable and phone lines. Assume any line you see on the ground is energized and remain a safe distance away.

• If someone in your home is dependent on continuously operating electric-powered medical equipment, make arrangements to relocate.

• Before lowering a television antenna or satellite dish, look up for power lines. If you can’t avoid a power line, don’t do the work.

• Turn off all swimming pool pumps and filters and wrap them in waterproof materials.

• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings the day before the storm to keep food fresh in the event of a power outage. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about four hours if unopened. A freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full).

• Remember, if the power goes out, your electric garage door will not open. If you evacuate you home, be sure to have a door key with you so you can re-enter. To operate your garage door manually, pull on the emergency release cord and push the door up using the lift handle.

• Before the storm, turn off or unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics, such as computers and televisions. For maximum safety, you may want to consider turning your breaker switch off. This would protect you from shocks if your home is flooded.

• Check that emergency equipment such as flashlights, battery-operated radios and backup generators are in working order.