KCEC-Wildfire-Mitigation-Report10.30.25.pdf

Kit Carson wildfire mitigation report 10/2025

1. KCEC FFM UPDATE 10.30.25


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
October 30, 2025 Luis Reyes, CEO
[email protected]
Richard Martinez, COO
[email protected]


Kit Carson Electric Cooperative Wildfire Mitigation Update October 30, 2025: System Reliability and
Winter Readiness
Taos, NM — Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) is pleased to announce that electrical and internet
infrastructure across its service area has returned to normal operations following a series of proactive wildfire
mitigation and maintenance activities. These efforts highlight KCEC’s ongoing dedication to protecting its
members, communities, and environment from the growing threat of wildfires.
“I’m proud to report that this fire season, KCEC experienced no major fires caused by faulty equipment or
maintenance issues,” said Luis A. Reyes Jr., CEO of KCEC. “That success reflects the hard work and dedication
of our crews, our commitment to preventive maintenance, and the effectiveness of our wildfire mitigation strategy.
We will continue to strengthen and expand these efforts in the 2026 wildfire season to keep our members and
communities safe.”
Throughout the 2025 wildfire season, KCEC completed substation maintenance, system hardening projects, and
extensive tree trimming and vegetation management to reduce ignition risk and enhance electrical and internet
reliability. These actions align with KCEC’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan, which focuses on vegetation control,
infrastructure upgrades, and preventive maintenance in fire-prone areas.
KCEC’s leadership emphasized that crews have worked tirelessly throughout the year to safeguard the
cooperative’s systems and strengthen the regional electric grid. Through consistent equipment maintenance,
expanded vegetation management, and thorough crew preparation, KCEC continues to protect its members and
communities while maintaining reliable, year-round service.
With wildfire mitigation activities now complete, KCEC has turned its focus toward preparing for the upcoming
snowfall and winter season. Crews are filling inventories of critical electrical and internet equipment, verifying
system readiness, and ensuring field resources are in place to respond swiftly to winter weather challenges.
KCEC will continue to treat wildfire mitigation as a critical and ongoing priority. The cooperative remains vigilant
in its efforts to prevent ignition sources, enhance system reliability, and invest in advanced monitoring
technologies to reduce wildfire risk. KCEC will continue to take wildfire mitigation seriously as a persistent threat
and will always keep the safety of our communities as its top priority.
KCEC is enhancing its wildfire defense strategy by deploying Edge AI cameras, weather stations, satellite
imagery tools, and community microgrids in the most fire-prone areas. Supported by systems like AiDash,
Firescape, and accurate weather monitoring platforms, these technologies employ artificial intelligence and
satellite data to track and forecast vegetation growth near power lines and substations, deliver real-time insights

2. KCEC FFM UPDATE 10.30.25
for scheduled trimming, and assess wildfire risk based on weather and terrain data. They also provide early
warning alerts, continuous fire-weather monitoring, and automatic detection of smoke and flames through Edge
AI systems. Microgrids supply backup power to critical facilities, schools, and emergency centers during wildfire
events or Power Safety Power Shutoff activations, with privacy-focused local data processing ensuring no raw
video leaves the site. Collectively, these advanced tools improve situational awareness, accelerate response times,
and strengthen community resilience through predictive, data-driven wildfire prevention and management.
KCEC continues to move forward with its microgrid development initiative, with all designated project sites
secured and engineering approximately 60% complete. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2026,
marking a significant milestone in KCEC’s long-term strategy to enhance system resilience and community
safety. Despite the loss of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, KCEC remains committed to
advancing the project and is actively pursuing new funding opportunities to ensure its successful completion.
Wildfire remains the highest risk facing our communities, and these microgrid projects are a key component of
KCEC’s effort to reduce that threat while providing reliable power sources for critical facilities across its service
area.
KCEC’s microgrid, hydrogen, solar, and battery projects are progressing as planned, marking significant progress
toward a more resilient and sustainable energy future for northern New Mexico. Through the expansion of
distributed energy resources and the adoption of innovative energy technologies, KCEC is strengthening local
energy independence while ensuring reliable backup power for critical community facilities during emergencies.
As part of its readiness operations, KCEC crews will continue scheduled vegetation management and routine
inspections in key areas to maintain safe clearances and protect infrastructure. These measures support both
immediate safety and long-term system resilience.
Members are encouraged to stay informed about safety measures, outage updates, and wildfire mitigation progress
by visiting www.kitcarson.com or following KCEC’s official social media channels.
For further information on wildfire mitigation, KCEC projects or updates, please contact CEO Luis Reyes at
[email protected] or COO Richard Martinez at [email protected]. Visit us at kitcarson.com for more
details.