July 2, 2025 • Business News

El Paso Electric Issues an All-Source Request for Proposals to Reliably Meet Growing Demand for Customers

EL PASO, Texas (July 1, 2025) – El Paso Electric Company (EPE) issues an All-Source Request for Proposals (RFP) to secure capacity resources for its native load growth. These resources are crucial for meeting EPE’s system resource adequacy obligations ensuring reliable service to its expanding customer base. EPE may opt to include capacity and/or energy needs for its New Mexico service territory as part of this RFP, and if so, would be seeking to procure renewable energy resources to fulfil New Mexico’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).

This action is driven in part by a significant increase in service inquiries from large load customers and higher-than-expected retail load growth in EPE’s service territory. EPE aims to secure the summer capacity requirements from May 1, 2027, through May 1, 2031.  

EPE's preliminary assessment indicates a need for capacity between 650 megawatts (MW) and 850 MW of accredited capacity to meet the needs of its increasing customer base. In addition to addressing the baseline needs, EPE intends to use this All-Source RFP to assemble a portfolio of available resources that can support potential large load customers. This need is separate from, and in addition to, resources required to meet EPE’s forecasted natural load growth. Depending on the scope and timing of these potential customer interconnections, EPE estimates that this incremental need could be up to 1,650 MW of additional capacity over the resource acquisition period. 

"This All-Source RFP is a key step in ensuring we continue to deliver reliable, affordable power to our customers while at the same time supporting the economic growth our region is experiencing,” said Kelly A. Tomblin, President and CEO of El Paso Electric. “We’re receiving unprecedented interest from large-scale customers and significant growth from our current customers throughout our service territory. This process allows us to explore a broad range of solutions - traditional and renewable - that will meet our evolving energy needs while also supporting long-term sustainability and economic development.”

Prospective bidders have until September 1, 2025, to submit a Notice of Intent to bid. The full 2025 All-Source RFP can be found at epelectric.com.