When you receive an electricity bill in El Paso, you might find yourself asking,

"Why is my electric bill so high this month?"

However, comparing El Paso's electricity costs to those in Dallas reveals some interesting differences.

El Paso is not particularly an expensive city for electricity; rather, it is a city where high electricity usage is unavoidable during the summer. The biggest difference lies in the structure of the electricity market.

Dallas is in a deregulated electricity retail market in Texas, allowing consumers to compare and choose from various electric companies and plans. In contrast, El Paso is served by El Paso Electric, meaning that households cannot switch electricity providers like they can in Dallas.

Instead, the rates themselves are relatively straightforward. Currently, the basic residential rate for El Paso Electric in Texas is $13.71 per month, and from May to October, the first 600 kWh costs 13.247 cents per kWh, while usage over 600 kWh is charged at 14.247 cents. From November to April, the rate is 11.247 cents.

This is where El Paso's issue arises. It gets hot in the summer. Not just a little hot, but there are days when it's hard to cope without air conditioning. For those living in single-family homes, keeping indoor temperatures low can lead to usage exceeding 1,500 to 2,000 kWh.

For example, if you use 1,500 kWh in the summer, your energy usage cost alone would be about $208.

With the basic fee and various adjustment fees added, the actual bill increases further.

Dallas is a bit different. Since you can choose your electricity provider, the price per kWh can vary significantly depending on the plan you select. You might think you picked a cheap plan, but some products become more expensive if you exceed a certain usage threshold, and there are also products with basic fees or credit structures.

Thus, in Dallas, knowing "how much is the electric bill" is less important than "what plan are you on."

In El Paso, while there are fewer choices, understanding the rate structure is relatively easy.

Another thing to note is the Time-of-Day rate plan.

El Paso Electric will implement a new time-based rate program starting in 2026.

During summer weekdays from 2 PM to 7 PM, the rates will be higher, while lower rates will apply during other times.

If you can move activities like laundry, dishwashing, or electric vehicle charging to the evening or night, it might be worth considering.

In winter, the situation improves significantly. The basic electricity rate itself decreases, and air conditioning usage drops considerably.

As a result, many households in El Paso feel a significant difference in electricity costs between summer and winter.