With energy prices at high levels nationwide, the New Mexico Gas Company will hold an Energy Fiesta to promote complimentary energy assessments and upgrades which could save customers money on their energy bills. The Energy Fiesta, held in collaboration with the City of Española, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 24 on the Plaza de Española.
Employees from the New Mexico Gas Company will be at the Energy Fiesta to sign households up for energy efficiency assessments. Those who choose to participate will receive a visit from a NM Gas Company technician who can perform a safety inspection of gas appliances and an analysis of places where the home may be losing energy.
A variety of free home improvements could be offered by the NM Gas Company following the technician’s assessment. NM Gas Company Energy Efficiency Marketer and Developer Eric Martinez said upgrades can include sealing air leaks, installing smart or programmable thermostats, new shower heads, faucet aerators and upgrading insulation.
Because it is an investor-owned utility, the gas company is required to offer customers free energy-conserving assessments and upgrades, NM Gas Company Director of Energy Efficiency Carey Salaz said.
She said the upgrades will help customers make homes more affordable and save them money on their natural gas bill.
Española is receiving special attention from the gas company because customers in the city have been slow to sign up for the complimentary energy assessments. “Unfortunately, we haven’t had a lot of our customers in Española sign up, so we really wanted to get out there to the beautiful valley and work with them directly,” Salaz said.
Martinez said that reaching out to customers in Española was a focus for the company.
“The Española community is important to us,” he wrote in an email. “And we want to make sure NMGC customers who live there are getting the benefit of all of the services that we offer.”
The free community event will feature games, prizes and a lowrider car show, Salaz said.
“Meet our team, learn about the upgrades and get scheduled for a home visit,” Martinez said. “We’ll handle everything from there.”