El Paso Electric
Encyclopedia
El Paso Electric is an Electric utility that provides electricity to western Texas
and southern New Mexico
. Its service area covers an area from Van Horn, Texas
in the east and goes west to Luna, New Mexico
and from the United States-Mexico border north to Holloman Air Force Base
. As of 2009 it provides electric service to approximately 363,000 customers in this region.
Today, El Paso Electric is a regional electric utility providing generation, transmission, and distribution service to approximately 372,000 retail and wholesale customers in a 10000 square miles (25,899.9 km²) area of the Rio Grande valley in west Texas and southern New Mexico. Its service territory extends from Hatch, New Mexico
to Van Horn, Texas
.
to the south.
in Wintersburg, Arizona, a 7 percent interest in the Four Corners Generating Station
in northwestern New Mexico, the Rio Grande Power Station in Sunland Park, New Mexico, the Newman Power Station and the Copper Power Station in El Paso and the Hueco Mountain Wind Ranch in Hudspeth County, Texas.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and southern New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. Its service area covers an area from Van Horn, Texas
Van Horn, Texas
Van Horn is a town in and the county seat of Culberson County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,435 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Van Horn is located at ....
in the east and goes west to Luna, New Mexico
Luna, New Mexico
Luna is an unincorporated village in northwestern Catron County, New Mexico, United States. It is seven miles from the Arizona border and twentyone miles from Reserve on the San Francisco River and U.S. Route 180.-History:...
and from the United States-Mexico border north to Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base
Holloman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located six miles southwest of the central business district of Alamogordo, a city in Otero County, New Mexico, United States. The base was named in honor of Col. George V. Holloman, a pioneer in guided missile research...
. As of 2009 it provides electric service to approximately 363,000 customers in this region.
History
El Paso Electric (EPE) first began serving its customers on August 30, 1901. It was then known as the El Paso Electric Railway Company. Initially, its primary business consisted of providing transportation via mule-drawn streetcars, which were replaced in 1902 with electric streetcars.Today, El Paso Electric is a regional electric utility providing generation, transmission, and distribution service to approximately 372,000 retail and wholesale customers in a 10000 square miles (25,899.9 km²) area of the Rio Grande valley in west Texas and southern New Mexico. Its service territory extends from Hatch, New Mexico
Hatch, New Mexico
Hatch is a village in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,673 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town is experiencing moderate growth, along with its outliers of Salem, Arrey, Derry, and Rincon...
to Van Horn, Texas
Van Horn, Texas
Van Horn is a town in and the county seat of Culberson County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,435 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Van Horn is located at ....
.
Transmission System
El Paso Electric transmission system voltages are 115,000 volts and 345,000 volts. There are also two 230 KV interconnections with MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to the south.
Generating plants
El Paso Electric ownership in power plants include a 15.8 percent interest in the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating StationPalo Verde Nuclear Generating Station
The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear power plant located in Wintersburg, Arizona, about 45 miles west of central Phoenix. It is the largest nuclear generation facility in the United States, averaging over 3.3 gigawatts of electrical power production in 2008 to serve...
in Wintersburg, Arizona, a 7 percent interest in the Four Corners Generating Station
Four Corners Generating Station
The Four Corners Generating Station is a coal-fired power plant located near Fruitland, New Mexico, United States, on property located within the Navajo Indian Reservation that is leased from the Navajo Nation.-Description:...
in northwestern New Mexico, the Rio Grande Power Station in Sunland Park, New Mexico, the Newman Power Station and the Copper Power Station in El Paso and the Hueco Mountain Wind Ranch in Hudspeth County, Texas.