El Paso Electric reaching out to community after filing rate-increase case
El Paso Electric said it needs you to pay more every month on your electric bill to help pay for $1.3 billion it spent on upgrades. The utility is asking City Council to approve the utility’s overall rate increase of about 11 percent, and just under 12 percent for residential customers.
That translates to an average increase of about $8.50 a month in your home electric bill, according to El Paso Electric. It’s meant to generate an extra $71.5 million in revenue a year to cover investments made into the grid.
So while you may not look at your electric meter much, it could be costing you more in the near future. The hefty 12-volume, 5,000 page filing made Monday details why the company says it deserves more because of the investments it’s made. It will ultimately come down to a lengthy decision process with local and state regulators.
Many El Pasoans like Dolores Loya are using electricity to beat the heat this summer, and for just about everything else that goes on in her lower valley house where she hosted El Paso Electric officials including CEO Tom Shockley to explain the increase to her neighborhood.
“The reason – what necessitated these requests,” Shockley said, “is that we had to build new facilities of the area that we’re in.”
Loya said she isn’t exactly happy about the increase.
“But I understand where they’re coming from,” she said. “I’m realistic. And I understand that everyone needs a raise once in a while.”
But others at the meeting like Maria Carmen Lozano don’t really agree. Speaking in Spanish, she said “It’s not okay. I don’t think anyone is okay with the increase.”
El Paso Electric said it will continue to hold meetings like these to get the word, and they hope support, out.
With the rate case filed, City Council and regulators now have until December to review the documents and make a decision whether to accept, settle, or oppose it.
El Paso Electric said that depending on how that and possible legal challenges go, increases could go into effect by the end of spring next year.
