{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-speaks-out-about-rising-utility-costs-proposed-el-paso", "Rep. Gabe Vasquez Speaks Out About Rising Utility Costs, Proposed El Paso Electric Rate Increase", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Gabe Vasquez", "V000136", "vasquez.house.gov", "vasquez", "https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On June 30, 2026, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) released the following statement on El Paso Electric\u2019s proposed rate hike, which could cost the average family in Do\u00f1a Ana County up to $42 more per month \u2014 a 57% spike. While the utility company says this rate hike is necessary to cover rising production costs caused by state laws and regulations, rising supply costs, and increased demand, southern New Mexicans have made their opposition to the rate hike clear.\n\n\u201cHardworking New Mexico families are struggling to pay their bills as their costs increase from the gas station to the grocery store \u2014 asking them to pay 57% more for electricity in this economy is way, way too much,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cI have been in contact with El Paso Electric and understand the company\u2019s push to invest in grid modernization and safety, but raising prices over $500 a year is ridiculously high, and, frankly, unrealistic.\u201d\n\n\u201cEverything is already too expensive, with costs continuing to rise from the Trump Administration\u2019s war with Iran and irresponsibly high tariffs, which have caused rapid inflation,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cThis abrupt hike will crush hardworking families who need that money to pay for gas, groceries, rent, and healthcare \u2014 all of which just keep getting more and more expensive. There must be a more responsible path forward that is not shouldered by New Mexico ratepayers.\u201d\n\nLowering utility bills for New Mexicans is a core pillar of Rep. Vasquez\u2019s Affordability Agenda, a concrete plan to address the affordability crisis facing hardworking New Mexicans. Rep. Vasquez has:\n\nIntroduced the Energy Bills Relief Act, which takes a multi-pronged approach to bring down prices for hardworking New Mexicans.\n\nRolled out bipartisan legislation to cut red tape and reduce energy costs for families, such as the Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act.\n\nLed efforts to reduce energy waste through the introduction of his bipartisan Waste Heat to Wattage Act, which passed the House.\n\nLed the New Mexico delegation in demanding that the Administration immediately fund the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as New Mexico families prepared for colder temperatures this winter amidst sharply rising energy costs.\n\nSigned on as a proud member of the Lowering Utility Bills Caucus, which launched in January to tackle the affordability crisis in electricity, gas, and water costs.\n\nCondemned the administration\u2019s decision to cut $135 million in Department of Energy funding for projects in New Mexico, including $56 million in canceled investment for oil and gas modernization efforts in New Mexico\u2019s second district.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-vasquez-speaks-out-about-rising-utility-costs-proposed-el-paso"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0683960281312466, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}