EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso has submitted formal comments to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) requesting that ratepayer protections be applied statewide, including to communities served by utilities outside the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) electrical grid.

The comments were filed in response to Governor Greg Abbott’s directive regarding data center growth and residential ratepayer protections and policy direction previously approved by City Council.

In June, City Council amended the City’s 90th Legislative Session Agenda to support the policies that protect residential ratepayers from utility costs caused by large data centers and to advocate for extending those protections to El Paso customers served by El Paso Electric.

According to city officials, the City asked the Commission to ensure the governor’s directive extends to non-EROTC utilities such as El Paso Electric.

“We believe El Paso can lead in innovation while also protecting the people who live here. Welcoming investment and protecting residents are not competing goals, they go hand in hand,” said Mayor Renard Johnson. “As demand for electricity grows, the costs of serving that growth should be paid by those creating it, not by working families, seniors, or small businesses. We’re asking the Public Utility Commission to make sure every Texan, including the nearly 700,000 customers served by El Paso Electric, receives the same protections. Ratepayers must remain at the center of every decision.”

Specifically, the City asked the Commission to:

Confirm that the Governor’s directive applies to Texans both inside and outside ERCOT.

Initiate a separate rulemaking for non-ERCOT utilities.

Apply the Governor’s principles in pending and future proceedings involving El Paso Electric.

Recommend that any future legislation include protections for customers statewide.

The City will continue participating in proceedings before the Public Utility Commission to advocate for fair utility cost allocation and protect the interests of El Paso ratepayers, officials said.

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