EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso Electric is set to host its first community meeting on Monday to discuss a proposed $93 million rate increase.
The meetings followed after the El Paso City Council asked the utility company to host community meetings so people could learn more and ask questions about the proposed rate hike.
El Paso Electric announced in January that it had submitted an application to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which will ultimately have the final say on the rates. If approved, customers could see their monthly bills rise by approximately $22 starting in early 2026. El Paso Electric stated that the increase is necessary to recover costs from infrastructure investments and to accommodate residential, industrial, and commercial growth in the area.
El Paso Electric said the meetings are an opportunity for residents to get informed. In a statement, they said:
“El Paso Electric is participating in upcoming community meetings to share information on topics such as understanding your electric bill, available customer programs, how rates are structured, and the infrastructure that supports reliable service. Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback.”
In February, the City of El Paso intervened, pausing the rate increase for 90 days. Mayor Renard John emphasized the importance of public engagement. In a statement shared to KFOX14/CBS4 he said,
Community input is crucial when it comes to decisions that impact residents’ utility costs. The upcoming meetings hosted by El Paso Electric will provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the proposed rate increase, ask questions, and share their concerns. My hope is that these meeting lead to greater transparency, ensure residents’ voices are heard, and result in a fair outcome for the community. I encourage everyone to attend, stay informed, and actively participate in the conversation. Your input matters.
City Council members also encourage people to attend these meetings. City Representative Art Fierro, who represents East El Paso, and the Lower Valley, said, “It’s the opportunity for the utility to tell their side of the story. The side of the story that we see, we just don’t want an increase because we’re already paying x amount. It’s just one more item that adds up to our bill, it’s their opportunity to address the constituents.”
Representative Alejandra Chavez of West El Paso, Upper Valley, added, “We wanna make sure that these rate increases are gonna be reasonable because it will impact everybody’s bottom line and we need to make sure that we are equitable when it comes to that.”
Here is a full list of the community meetings happening in April:
- Monday, April 7 at 5:00 PM: Don Haskins Recreation Center, 7400 High Ridge Dr.
- Wednesday, April 9 at 5:00 PM: Northeast Regional Command Center, 9600 Dyer St.
- Thursday, April 10 at 5:00 PM: Chamizal Community Center, 2119 Cypress Ave.
- Monday, April 14 at 5:00 PM: Michelle T. Adjemian Recreation Center, 9031 Viscount Blvd.
- Wednesday, April 16 at 5:00 PM: The Beast Urban Park, 13501 Jason Crandall Dr.
- Thursday, April 24 at 5:00 PM: Pavo Real Recreation Center, 9301 Alameda Ave.
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