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Doña Ana County Residents Express Concern Over El Paso Electric Rate Case

http://youtu.be/txqbbYfDWx4

El Paso Electric is looking to increase rates in New Mexico by almost 9%, Doña Ana County has filed to become an intervener in the case and held a public hearing to see what concerns the public had.

Turning on a light could soon be more expensive. But, Rocky Bacchus, owner of One Hour Air Conditioning in Las Cruces think’s rates should be lowered to meet prices in El Paso.

“Currently there are prices that are up to 20% less in Texas than in New Mexico,” Bacchus said. “Which, doesn’t make sense when 3 times as much power comes from Arizona through New Mexico to Texas. It doesn’t make sense for the rates to be higher, and the rate of return being requested is extremely high.”

Bacchus has also filed to be an intervener in the case, he hopes to work with Doña Ana County to make sure electric prices in New Mexico are fair.

“We want to work with the county and with other interveners to come up with positive ways that are a benefit to everyone to reduce costs,” Bacchus said. “And we believe that by collaborating, which is legal to do that we can best come up with that.”

El Paso Electric is requesting a rate increase to recover $1.3 Billion in investment to its distribution system.

Doña Ana County Commissioner Dr. David Garcia says the county has a responsibility to intervene in the rate case especially when the literature being passed out by El Paso Electric is very difficult to understand

“They just don’t understand the literature that is being put out to the customers,” Garcia said. “It is very complicated, a person without technical background is going to have a difficult time deciphering what that information that is going out to the customers mean. And then there is a whole lot of categories, more than 30 something categories to those documents. So, on behalf of the citizens, I can understand their frustration.”

One of those categories is causing a lot of concern for many residents, a separate rate for solar customers. Kennan Newtson says they shouldn’t have to pay more for using less electricity.

“El Paso Electric has identified solar users in a separate group,” Newtson said. “And although the connection price is the same, the Kilowatt hour is slightly higher for us solar users than it would be for regular customers.”

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission needs to approve the rate increase. The last time El Paso Electric requested a rate increase was in 2009.

Samantha Sonner was a multimedia reporter for KRWG- TV/FM.