I think what scientists are telling us is that, you know, this 50 year event, we may see 50 year events much more frequently.

We need to know why natural gas was cutoff to entire regions of New Mexico.

This hearing is an important first step to ask the tough questions that will allow us to identify and fix problems.

I think today's hearing provides us an opportunity to both zero in on what happened during New Mexico's recent gas outage crisis but much more importantly to get to some of those answers so that we make sure this never happens again.

He has given incredible public service to New Mexico, dedicated and committed public service. He's a remarkable mentor and friend of mine and colleague.

We need to improve our interstate gas reliability in the southwest.

Rolling blackouts then resulted without consideration for the impact on gas infrastructure and the impact that would have on New Mexicans.

You have asked Transwestern and El Paso to also match, each of them, to match you. Is that correct?

Thank you Senator Bingaman for the opportunity to testify before you on the natural gas outage that occurred here in New Mexico earlier this month during a period of some of the coldest weather in our State's recent history.

No man is an island. No state except Hawaii is either. Texas and New Mexico need to work together to improve regional reliability.

Thank you, Senator Bingaman for holding this hearing in New Mexico and for listening to us.

First New Mexico Gas Company needs to improve their emergency planning, communication and service restoration.

As a result the decisions made by the New Mexico Gas Company the burden of the cutoff was shifted to and borne by people less able to bear the cost of it, tribes and the poor communities throughout the State.

I think it's very important that you have done this so quickly and that you have organized this in a way to have panels that I think are really going to get to the bottom of many of the issues that are circulating out there.

I think the crisis continues because when the next perfect storm should hit and we know that it will eventually.

The primary causes that we're hearing at this point were not because of gas shortages. They were because of lack of winterization.

Should there be new Federal reliability standards to cover the interdependency of electricity in the natural gas supply infrastructure?

In hindsight looking at it and looking at what you know about these sparsely populated areas and the ability of the people to go out and find and shut off and then re-light and all of that.