EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Texas Gas Service (TGS), at the direction of the El Paso City Council, will host a series of community meetings to explain its proposal to raise residential gas rates by over 27 percent and to answer residents’ questions about how it could affect their monthly bills.
These meetings are intended to allow residents to hear directly from TGS representatives and learn more about the company’s pending rate case before the city’s public hearing later this month, according to the City of El Paso in a news release.
TGS proposal
The company has proposed merging several areas across Texas — including West Texas, Central Gulf, and the Rio Grande Valley — into a single statewide rate structure.
According to the city’s analysis, this approach would shift a disproportionate share of system costs to El Paso customers, resulting in an average residential bill increase of more than 27 percent.
According to the news release, city officials and financial experts have raised concerns that the proposal does not accurately reflect the cost of providing gas service in El Paso. The city believes that combining all service areas into one statewide system would unfairly require El Pasoans to subsidize customers in other parts of Texas, despite significant regional differences in infrastructure, operations, and service needs.
Community meetings schedule
Monday, Nov. 10
- 5 to 6:30 p.m.: City Hall, 300 N. Campbell
- 7 to 8:30 p.m.: West Side Regional Command Center, 4801 Osborne
Tuesday, Nov. 11
- 5 to 6:30 p.m.: Pebble Hills Regional Command Center, 10780 Pebble Hills
- 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Upper Eastside Regional Command Center, 14398 Edgemere
Wednesday, Nov. 12
- 5 to 6:30 p.m.: Valle Bajo Recreation Center, 7380 Alameda
- 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Mission Valley Regional Command Center, 9001 Escobar
Thursday, Nov. 13
- 5 to 6:30 p.m.: Wayne Thornton Recreation Center, 1860 Walter Jones
- 7 to 8:30 p.m.: Northeast Regional Command Center, 9600 Dyer
“City Council wants residents to have access to clear, accurate information about the proposed rate increase,” City Attorney Karla Nieman said. “The City’s position is that any rate changes must be fair, transparent, and based on the actual cost of providing service in El Paso—not on costs from other regions. Our duty is to ensure El Pasoans are treated equitably and protected from unreasonable increases.”
Last month, the City Council voted to schedule a public hearing at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, at City Hall, where TGS will present its proposal to residents and city leaders.
“The City remains committed to protecting local ratepayers, ensuring compliance with state laws requiring ‘just and reasonable’ rates, and opposing any proposal that would unfairly increase costs for El Paso customers. The City will continue to actively advocate before the Railroad Commission of Texas to ensure El Paso’s interests are represented throughout the proceedings. A final decision by the Railroad Commission is expected in January 2026,” read the news release.
Residents are encouraged to attend one of the community meetings or the November 17 public hearing to stay informed and share feedback.
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