El Paso schedules community meetings as Texas Gas Service seeks more than 27% residential rate increase

At the direction of the El Paso City Council, Texas Gas Service will host eight community meetings across El Paso to explain a proposal to raise residential gas rates by more than 27 percent and to give residents a chance to ask questions about how the increase could affect monthly bills.

City communications host Ricky Isaias said the meetings are intended to let residents hear directly from company representatives before a City Council public hearing set for Nov. 17 at City Hall. The first community meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10 at City Hall; a full schedule is posted on elpasotexas.gov, the city said.

The meetings follow a council direction rather than a final regulatory decision by the city. The Texas Gas Service proposal would be set by the company and any final rate change would depend on the company's regulatory process and approvals outside the council's meeting minutes referenced in this bulletin.

Residents interested in details or in contesting the proposal were directed to the city events page for the meeting schedule and to attend the Nov. 17 public hearing to speak on the record.