SUNLAND PARK, NEW MEXICO (KFOX14/CBS4) — Sunland Park residents attended a community meeting with El Paso Electric to learn more about a proposed rate increase that could raise monthly bills in New Mexico service areas, leaving some frustrated and others appreciative of the information.

Tonight’s meeting at the new Sunland Park Sports Complex had a low turnout, but it gave those who attended a chance to ask questions and hear directly from the company.

Still, as costs continue to rise, not everyone left feeling reassured.

“Well, I’m extremely frustrated with it,” said Patty Cruz, a Sunland Park resident.

Cruz said the proposed increase comes as many households are already feeling squeezed by higher prices.

“Everything has gone up tremendously in the last two, three years, right? I mean, we’re talking about two, three and four times. And now you’re also increasing the electric,” she said.

RECOMMENDED: Rising gas prices nearly double costs for local towing company, forcing tough choices

Another resident, said the meeting was helpful but described the financial strain many families are already under.

The resident said the information provided was “fairly well done” after an initial surprise at the format.

“I think it had great information,” she said.

Still, one resident said higher rates are difficult to absorb when wages are not rising at the same pace.

“Our incomes are not going up,” the Sunland Park resident said. “But our income is not going up as much as the rates are. So that’s my biggest beef and that’s the biggest problem.”

She adds that pressure forces people to cut back on spending, including dining out and other expenses.

“I cut my gym membership,” she said.

El Paso Electric said the proposed hike would come in two phases, adding about 49 cents a day, which equates to about $15 a month for the first phase.

The second phase will increase to 88 cents a day, adding $27 a month.

Low-income customers will have the opportunity to be charged less than 1 cent a day during phase one of the potential rate increase.

Jennifer Borden, the utility’s strategic rate case director, said the increase is needed after significant spending on the state’s power grid.

“So we have made many, many investments since our last rate case. We’ve made over $400 million in investments in our grid for New Mexico,” Borden said. “We have made those investments since the last rate case, which was the end of 2020, all the way through September 2025. So those investments, we need to propose this increase to start recovering those investments that we’ve made, and it’s a filing with the commission of New Mexico.”

RECOMMENDED: El Paso Water plans aging pipe replacements after January break left thousands dry

The final decision could take up to a year.

One New Mexico resident said the concern for many residents is that rising utility costs are outpacing wages.

“What the problem was with the water and the electrical increase rates is that it doesn’t equate in our income. Our incomes are not going up. But our income is not going up as much as the rates are. So that’s my biggest beef and that’s the biggest problem,” she said.

After the community meetings, the next step moves to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, which will review the proposed rate increase, followed by public hearings.

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.