El Paso residents worry about rising electric bills during summer heat

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — As the cost of living continues to rise and inflation shows no signs of slowing down, many El Paso residents are expressing concern over what they say is a significant spike in their electric bills.

Real estate agent Rene Botello, who owns a firm on the East Side, reported a dramatic increase in his personal electric bill, jumping from $80 one month to $180 the next, despite not changing his usage habits.

“We’re seeing a constant increase in our electricity bills. It’s getting harder for consumers to afford it,” Botello said. “In our 3,020 square foot office, we’re seeing a huge increase in costs. This impacts our ability to hire new staff and manage salaries.”

Robert Heimer, director of customer care for El Paso Electric, attributed the increase to several factors, with the primary one being the extreme summer heat.

“In general, during this time of year, as temperatures increase, our customers use more energy, primarily driven by air conditioning, especially those with refrigerated air,” Heimer said.

El Paso Electric says they are actively working to keep energy bills affordable while maintaining reliability and preparing for future energy needs. However, for residents like Botello, the immediate impact of rising costs is significant.

“It’s like, am I going to put gas in my car? Am I going to buy groceries or pay the electric bill? It’s going to start being pretty severe for people to afford just a common lifestyle here in the city if these increases continue,” Botello said.

Heimer encourages any customers with concerns about their bills to contact El Paso Electric or visit their website for tips and tools to better understand their energy consumption.

You can click here to learn more about El Paso Electric.

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