El Paso Electric asks state for rate increase

The El Paso Electric company has asked the state of Texas for a rate hike.

 The company is asking the Public Utility Commission of Texas for permission to increase rates in El Paso and other parts of West Texas served by the company.

 If the commission allows the rate increase, the average bill for homeowners would increase about four dollars a month.

 The proposed new rate would start on March 7 and customers would also have to pay an additional $1.32 per month for a year.

 The surcharge would recover money owed from November for the new rate according to El Paso Electric’s filing.

 El Paso Electric filed the rate case on Wednesday as it was ordered by the El Paso city council. The council has said the company’s current rates are too high.