Raton Faces 12-Hour Citywide Blackout March 12, Hospital Reassures Residents

Raton Public Service Company cut power to the entire city of Raton for 12 hours beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 12, with restoration targeted for 6 a.m. Friday, March 13, contingent on weather conditions.

RPS described the action as both a planned and emergency outage, undertaken to perform critical infrastructure and transmission line repair. The utility stated the work could not be completed while lines remained energized and was required to prevent potential future disruptions. "We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we work to maintain reliable electric service," RPS said in its formal customer notice.

Residents who rely on electricity-powered medical equipment were specifically advised by RPS to make alternative arrangements during the outage period. The utility noted restoration could shift depending on weather and other conditions, and directed customers with questions to call (575)-445-9861, visit ratonnm.gov, or check the RPS Facebook page for updates.

Miners' Colfax Medical Center moved quickly to address public concern before the lights went out. "We want to assure our community that we are fully prepared for the planned citywide power outage," the facility stated. The hospital said its dedicated emergency backup generator is capable of powering critical operations for more than seven days on its current fuel supply, and that essential emergency and patient care services would continue uninterrupted throughout the blackout.

The medical center detailed the scope of its preparations: "Our leadership and clinical teams have been planning for this event and have activated additional preparedness measures to ensure patient safety and continuity of care. These steps include coordinating with local EMS, city, and county partners, establishing an incident command structure during the outage, and preparing backup documentation processes if needed."

The 12-hour outage affected the full Raton public service area, with the disruption drawing attention from nearby communities and travelers using I-25 and regional services between New Mexico and southern Colorado.