With deregulation, Texas homeowners can shop around for affordable Electricity in El Paso TX. Finding the best plan can be tricky, though. With varying rates, contract lengths, energy sources, bill credits, and more, there are a lot of factors to take into account.
El Paso Electric Co generates, transmits, and distributes Electricity in El Paso TX. Its energy resources include nuclear fuel, natural gas, purchased power, and solar.
Generating
El Paso TX is a city with a unique energy infrastructure. It is one of the few cities in the country to have its own public utility company, Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP). The company operates its electricity distribution system in West Texas and New Mexico. Its primary energy sources include nuclear fuel, natural gas, purchased power and solar.
The city’s utilities have improved in recent years, especially after a massive winter storm a decade ago caused widespread blackouts. Its power stations are now able to withstand extreme cold and can tap a wider range of energy sources. It also has large solar batteries that can store energy during the midday when electricity demand peaks.
However, the city’s rooftop solar policies are controversial. One such policy requires residents to pay a minimum bill of $30, which some say is blocking rooftop solar growth and driving up electricity rates. This has prompted criticism from business groups and politicians.
Transmission
El Paso’s arid environment puts a lot of pressure on its energy systems. But the city is working hard to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, and invest in new green energy sources.
The city has an aggressive renewable energy plan and is experimenting with solar-plus-storage. It’s also investing in the Southline Transmission project, a 280-mile double-circuit line that would bring renewable energy from the desert southwest to markets.
The Southline transmission line will connect the ERCOT grid with El Paso and Tucson, and enable wind and solar resources to reach key market areas. It is being co-developed by Black Forest Partners and Grid United. The companies are seeking approval from the PUCT to include the project in its base rates.
Distribution
The distribution utility is the local power company that delivers electricity to homes and businesses via wires. Texas’s TDUs (Transmission and Distribution Service Providers) include Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP North, AEP Central and TNMP.
A provision in the Climate Charter would ban the city’s water utility from selling any water to fossil fuel operators. It’s designed to conserve the arid El Paso region’s limited supply, authors of the charter say. It also would prevent EPE from obtaining water to operate its two gas-fired power plants, which in 2021 combined to emit 6,600 tons of NOx and 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide.
Those plants use thousands of gallons every day to cool themselves and to reduce NOx emissions, which react in the atmosphere to form smog. They could still get the water they need elsewhere, but the Climate Charter would make that harder. Moreover, it would prevent the utility from importing reclaimed water or pumping additional groundwater into its Montana and Rio Grande power plants.
Customer Service
In the deregulated energy market, you can choose your electricity provider and plan. But understanding the complex plans, varying rates, contract lengths, energy sources, introductory rates, bill credits, minimum usage levels, cancellation fees and more can be confusing. Learn how to shop, compare and switch electricity providers quickly and easily.
El Paso Electric Co generates and distributes power in West Texas and Southern New Mexico. Its energy resources include nuclear, natural gas, purchased power, and solar. The company serves residential, commercial, industrial, and public authority customers.
If you live in El Paso, you can save money on your energy bills by going solar. On average, you’ll break even on your solar investment in 9.21 years. You can also reduce your electricity consumption by using a smart thermostat and making other energy efficiency improvements. In either case, you can help the environment by switching to green energy. The best way to find a reliable solar installation company in El Paso is to visit the EnergySage Marketplace.