What is Energy Security?

Energy security means ensuring that New Mexico has access to a reliable and resilient energy system before, during, and after a disaster. Energy security requires planning for disruptions, strengthening energy infrastructure, and coordinating with partners across all levels of government and industry.

ECAM’s Role

The Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECAM) plays a central leadership role in energy security for the State of New Mexico. Our responsibilities span planning, coordination, response, and resilience-building activities across all energy sectors.

Emergency Support Function 12 (ESF-12) – Energy:

ECAM serves as the lead agency for ESF-12, coordinating information about the assessment, restoration, and stabilization of critical energy systems during emergencies. ESF-12 is a supporting state agency that represents the energy sector during a state-level emergency. New Mexico has seventeen ESFs, each represented by a different state agency. New Mexico adopted the ESF model from FEMA’s National Response Framework. More information about Emergency Support Functions is available here.

State Energy Security Plan

The current State Energy Security Plan (SESP) is New Mexico’s roadmap for keeping our energy systems strong and reliable during emergencies. It helps guide how the state prepares for and responds to things like power outages, fuel shortages, and wildfires. The plan is updated regularly based on new data and insights from training and exercises.

The plan is updated regularly to reflect changing conditions, new data, and lessons learned from exercises and real-world incidents.

State Energy Security Plan (PDF)

State Energy Security Plan Appendices (PDF)

Tribal and Interagency Energy Coordination:
EMNRD engages with Tribal Nations and state/federal partners to build inclusive, resilient energy response systems.

National Collaboration

ECAM actively participates in the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Energy Security Committee. Through this partnership, New Mexico contributes to national policy development, shares best practices, and engages in multistate coordination efforts to improve energy emergency preparedness.

2025 Energy Security Program Highlights

Statewide Energy Exercises 2025

In 2025, ECAM planned and facilitated six energy-focused tabletop exercises across New Mexico. These exercises brought together utilities, cooperatives, tribal governments, emergency management agencies, state agencies, federal partners, and critical infrastructure operators.

Together, the exercises engaged 238 participants statewide.

February 27, 2025 – Desert Gridlock
San Juan County region | 63 participants

April 7, 2025 – Cyber Surge
Doña Ana County (Las Cruces) | 33 participants

April 22, 2025 – Blazing Blackout
Santa Fe | 51 participants

October 1, 2025 – Frozen Gridlock
Tucumcari / Quay County | 37 participants

November 5, 2025 – Fire Gridlock
Statewide (electric cooperatives focus) | 40 participants

November 19, 2025 – Signal Gridlock
Lea County | 14 participants

Interested in hosting a custom energy exercise with your organization?
Contact: Shawnelle Chavez
Email: shawnelle.chavez@emnrd.nm.gov

Energy Stakeholder Coordination

The Energy Security Program hosted seven statewide Energy Stakeholder Coordination Meetings in 2025, with a total of 466 participants.

These meetings provided a consistent forum for utilities, emergency management, tribal partners, and government agencies to share situational awareness and coordinate preparedness activities.

ESF-12 Support at the State Emergency Operations Center

In 2025, ESF-12 supported SEOC activities during events involving winter weather, wildfire activity, high winds, flooding in Ruidoso, Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) considerations, and statewide election security operations.

Strengthening ESF-12 Capacity

In 2025, ECAM established an internal ESF-12 support team to strengthen staffing continuity during emergency activations. This internal capacity helped ensure consistent coverage and coordination during periods of increased emergency activity.

State Energy Security Plan Update

ECAM submitted targeted updates to the State Energy Security Plan to the U.S. Department of Energy in 2025. The updates refined key data and incorporated insights from recent exercises, coordination efforts, and emergency operations.