Monthly utility bills for the average El Paso household could go up by about $45 a month – or 18% – in early 2026 as the electric, gas and water utilities that serve the city are seeking rate increases.
That’s about $540 a year more over this year amid a broader slowdown in the U.S. economy. Utility bills are outpacing wages in El Paso, which increased about 8% on average over the last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“The cost of living is eating away at our American dream,” said Felipe Acuña, 68, a retired railroad worker who lives in the Lower Valley. “It feels like these utility companies are trying to squeeze every drop, like from a sponge … until nothing drops. And then, squeeze again.”…