City requests statewide data center ratepayer protections
The City of El Paso has submitted formal comments to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) advocating for statewide ratepayer protections from utility costs driven by large data centers. This action follows a directive from Governor Greg Abbott regarding data center growth and residential ratepayer protection. The city aims to extend these protections to all Texans, including those served by non-ERCOT utilities like El Paso Electric.
The City of El Paso has formally submitted comments to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), urging the implementation of statewide ratepayer protections to shield residents from increased utility costs attributed to the growth of large data centers. This submission is a direct response to a directive from Governor Greg Abbott concerning data center development and the protection of residential ratepayers.
The City Council previously amended its 90th Legislative Session Agenda to support policies that would safeguard residential ratepayers from utility cost burdens imposed by data centers. They specifically advocate for these protections to extend to El Paso customers served by El Paso Electric, a utility operating outside the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid.
Mayor Renard Johnson emphasized the city's commitment to fostering innovation while simultaneously protecting residents. "As demand for electricity grows, the costs of serving that growth should be paid by those creating it, not by working families, seniors, or small businesses," Johnson stated. The city is requesting the PUCT ensure these protections are uniformly applied across Texas, benefiting the nearly 700,000 customers of El Paso Electric. The City of El Paso plans to continue its participation in PUCT proceedings to advocate for fair utility cost allocation.