Good news: El Paso-area electric bills going down to reflect lower fuel costs
At last, some good news for El Paso utility customers.
El Paso Electric is substantially reducing electric bills for its Texas customers at least a few months to reflect expected lower costs for natural gas to fuel its power plants.
Residential electric bills will go down an average $12.90 per month on winter utility bills beginning with February bills, company officials reported.
Commercial customers also will see a reduction in their electric bills.
The Texas Public Utility Commission of Texas recently approved the company’s request to lower the fuel charge on bills by 62.5%.
The good news comes after El Paso Electric increased electric rates during the summer under a rate-case settlement. The average residential bill increased about $2 a month.
Texas Gas Service and the city-operated El Paso Water are increasing their rates this year for El Paso-area customers.
El Paso Electric’s reduced fuel charge will remain in effect until at least June 1, said Karmen Mayorga, a company spokesperson.
The company’s fuel costs fluctuate, so the company will review costs in several months, and request another adjustment to electric bills if needed, Mayorga said.
The company’s natural gas costs typically go up during the summer because of increased electricity demand, she said. However, EPE’s current forecast indicates fuel costs will be lower this summer than in 2022, Mayorga said.
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The company also is in the midst of a fuel-reconciliation case at the PUC, in which the company is reporting that it did not collect $38.5 million from customers for fuel-related costs from April 2019 through March 2022, according to a company filing with the PUC. It will be up to the PUC to determine if the company is due money from customers for under-collecting on fuel charges.
Vic Kolenc may be reached at 546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Electric bills going down in Texas to reflect lower fuel costs
