Beat the heat on your electric bill this summer

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso Electric is helping customers struggling with higher-than-usual summer electric bills through pop-up assistance events, held at El Paso Community College's Administrative Services Center.

Customers just need a valid photo ID for a Customer Care team to review their bill increase and discuss payment arrangements and financial assistance options.

Those higher costs stem from recently approved rates and seasonal summer pricing, which remains in effect through October.

In the meantime, customers can lower their bills by raising the thermostat a few degrees during peak hours, running washers and dryers late at night, closing blinds to block afternoon sun, and checking for drafty windows.

Veronica Lespron's summer has been defined by a lot more than the heat outside.

She said paying almost 200, even $250 for an electricity bill is something she can't keep on her budget.

"Anything would help," she said. That's a huge jump from the roughly $60 a month she says she paid with solar panels — installed years ago specifically to avoid costs like this. But as her household grows, with kids home for summer and a son heading to college, so do the demands on that bill.

"It's hot, so we have the air conditioning running. Kids are home. It's just really sad to see that this is happening right now," Veronica said.

El Paso Electric's Michelle Lopez said they generally see an increase every year in June, July and August because those are the hottest months with the most daylight.

El Paso electric also says relief is still possible through simple habits, and that pop-up events like today's aim to help families find tools to lower their bill.

But Lespron said that if her bill doesn't come down, it's not even worth having solar panels. "Absolutely not. No," she said.

El Paso Electric will hold more pop-up events like this one in Socorro, Canutillo and at EPCC throughout August.