This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso.
Texas Gas Rate Increase Approved
The Railroad Commission of Texas approved Texas Gas Service’s rate structure changes for natural gas usage, increasing El Paso customers’ monthly bills starting with the current billing cycle. Small residential customers will see their monthly bills increase about 10% or $4, while large residential clients will see increases of 19% or about $11. That amounts to about $48-$132 more a year.
The decision also means bills will decrease for residential customers in the Rio Grande Valley and other parts of Texas as the utility is consolidating its three service areas across the state. Executives have said the consolidation will help “spread risks,” so if disasters strike a portion of the state and destroy gas infrastructure, the cost of repairs would be spread among customers statewide.
READ MORE: Texas Gas Service customers in El Paso face 27% rate increases under proposal
The rate hike proposal originally called for increases of about 27% for El Paso customers.
The commission, the state’s oil and gas industry regulator, approved the rate increase Feb. 5.
“This decision is not the outcome the City Council sought for El Paso customers,” City Attorney Karla Nieman said in a news release.
The El Paso City Council in November voted to deny the rate increase requested by the utility last summer. Texas Gas Service said it needed to collect $41 million more annually from its roughly 700,000 customers spread across the state.
The Public Service Board, which oversees El Paso Water, last month approved a water rate increase of about 12% over last year – translating to about $92 more a year for the average user.
City Names New Capital Improvement Department Director
Javier Acosta has been named the city’s next Capital Improvement Department director. He’ll begin in his new role Feb. 16 with an annual salary of $200,000 and oversee capital projects such as transportation, drainage, public facilities and utility infrastructure.
Acosta previously worked with the city as an engineering division manager and floodplain administrator, where he oversaw multi-million-dollar projects, managed engineering and land development teams, and worked closely with federal and state partners on floodplain management and mitigation efforts, according to a city news release.
He most recently served as a municipal practice director with the Houston-based LJA Engineering Inc., and also held leadership roles in the private sector.
“Javier’s deep technical expertise, proven leadership, and familiarity with city operations make him a strong fit to lead the Capital Improvement Department,” City Manager Dionne Mack said in a news release. “His experience managing complex infrastructure projects and his commitment to public service will support the city’s continued investment in safe, resilient and well-planned capital improvements.”
Acosta holds bachelors’ in civil engineering and surveying engineering from New Mexico State University and is a licensed professional engineer in Texas and New Mexico.
He replaces Gilbert Guerrero, who served as interim director after Yvette Hernandez was promoted to deputy city manager in February 2025.
Long-term Parking Fees at El Paso International Airport Increase
Travelers who use the long-term parking lot at El Paso International Airport will have to pay $2 more per day beginning March 1. The daily rate for long-term parking will go up from $7 to $9 per day.
The new rate will help cover operational costs and allow the airport to invest in existing parking facilities.
“We’re committed to providing a high-quality, convenient experience for our passengers,” Tony Nevarez, the airport director, said in a news release. “This rate adjustment supports continued investment in airport infrastructure and services, ensuring we can meet the growing needs of our region.”
The airport does not operate using local tax dollars. Instead, it’s operated through an enterprise fund that relies on revenue from services such as parking, rental and concession fees, as well as passenger facility charges.
Though the new rates were approved in October as part of the airport’s budget, they didn’t immediately go into effect.
Information: FlyElPaso.com.
Volunteers for Valentine’s Day Tree Planting Wanted
The city is hosting a Planting Love Together event on Valentine’s Day to plant 25 trees at Lionel Forti Park, 7735 Phoenix Ave., in the Lower Valley.
The event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, but volunteers are asked to arrive at 8:30 a.m. to sign in and receive instructions and materials. Walk-up volunteers are also welcome. Volunteers are encouraged to wear long pants, long-sleeve shirts and closed-toe shoes.
Planting is expected to continue until noon or until all the trees are planted. Supplies including gloves, tools, water, light snacks and tree-planting materials will be provided.
Participants may register in advance through the city of El Paso 915 Tree Keepers Volunteer page. Volunteers younger than 18 must bring a signed parent or guardian permission form, and a parent or guardian must stay on site with them during the event.
The event is being put on by the 915 Tree Keepers Program, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Climate and Sustainability Division, and the Community and Human Development Department.
Information: 915 Tree Keepers.
UTEP, EPCC See Higher Spring Registration Numbers Over Last Year
A record number of students – 24,901 – enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso for the spring 2026 semester, according to a UTEP news release. That is a 4.4% increase above last year’s spring enrollment.
That increase includes big bumps in enrollment in the colleges of Nursing (2,650) and Health Sciences (2,040) that went up 12.6% and 9.6%, respectively, over last year. Additionally, the institution touted hikes in new master’s enrollment, 6%; credit hours, 5.2%; and undergraduate enrollment, 5.1%.
Amanda Vasquez-Vicario, vice president for enrollment management, said that much of this spring’s record was due to high levels of student persistence.
El Paso Community College reported a spring 2026 enrollment of 24,394 students, which was a modest increase of a little more than 2% over the previous year.
Texas Tech Health El Paso did not respond to a request for information about its spring enrollment.
Chihuahua Measles Outbreak Declared Over
One year after measles spread from West Texas to Chihuahua – leading to more than 9,000 infections in Mexico – Mexican health officials declared the outbreak contained.
The first measles case in the multistate outbreak was reported in late January in Gaines County, Texas, which has a large Mennonite community with historically low vaccination rates. The disease spread from there, reaching El Paso and Ciudad Juárez that spring.
Texas health officials declared the West Texas measles outbreak over in August 2025, but measles continued to spread in neighboring Chihuahua, where cases had long surpassed numbers in Texas and New Mexico. At its peak, Chihuahua recorded up to 500 new measles cases in a day.
Chihuahua accounted for nearly half of all new measles cases and most of the measles-related deaths in Mexico. The majority of cases occurred among unvaccinated people, with concentrations in Cuauhtémoc and Ciudad de Chihuahua – cities with a large Mennonite population. Mexican health authorities launched an aggressive immunization campaign, offering free vaccines in public locations.
David Kershenobich Stalnikowitz, Secretary of Health of Mexico, said at a news conference Thursday that only isolated cases of measles remain and the spread is now under control.
The post El Paso gas customers to see higher bills; city names capital projects chief appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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