EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 El Paso Water will hold community meetings in January to address questions regarding the proposed rate increase.<\/p>\n
According to the City of El Paso, EP Water will hold eight community meetings around the City to answer questions people might have about the bill increase they could see starting March.<\/p>\n
All meetings will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a formal presentation scheduled for 6: 00 p.m. <\/p>\n
Schedule below:<\/p>\n
Monday, Jan. 5<\/p>\n
Marty Robbins Rec Center, 11620 Vista Del Sol Dr.West Side Command Center, 4801 Osborne Dr.<\/p>\n
Tuesday, Jan. 6<\/p>\n
Armijo Rec Center, 700 E. 7th Ave.Upper Eastside Command Center, 14301 Pebble Hills Blvd.<\/p>\n
Wednesday, Jan. 7<\/p>\n
Wayne Thornton Rec Center, 3134 Jefferson Ave.Northeast Command Center, 9600 Dyer St.<\/p>\n
Thursday, Jan. 8<\/p>\n
Valle Bajo Rec Center, 7380 Alameda Ave.Mission Valley Command center, 9011 Escobar Dr.<\/p>\n
The City wants El Pasoans to go and ask questions and share their concerns with the utility company.<\/p>\n
RELATED: El Paso Water lays out proposed 12% rate increase during City Council work session<\/a><\/p>\n In December, EP Water presented its proposed 2026-2027 budget to the city council, outlining a $1.2 billion plan that includes a 12% rate increase for all customers.<\/p>\n Chief Financial Officer Jeff Tepsick said, “So this $1.2 billion budget, which is the largest budget in our history, is going to go to our capital improvement program.” <\/p>\n The increase, if approved, would raise a typical residential customer’s monthly bill by about $10. <\/p>\n The utility attributes the hike to a $770 million capital improvement program, which encompasses water supply, wastewater treatment, and flood control projects citywide.<\/p>\n EP Water’s infographic detailing the proposed rate increase:<\/p>\n City officials have asked EP Water to host these meetings, as they appear to understand that people might have questions for transparency.<\/p>\n City Representative Art Fierro, for example, expressed concerns, stating, “Unfortunately, we’re in the situation right now where everybody’s trying to raise our rates, and El Paso Water, I don’t believe, gave us the true facts under the reason why they need to raise rates.”<\/p>\n If approved in January, the rate hike could go into effect in March.<\/p>\n This proposed hike comes after El Paso Electric and the Texas Gas service have done the same, threatening to cost Borderland families approximately $40 monthly or $480 annually more on their bills.<\/p>\n