EPWater invites customers to community meetings on FY 2027-28 Budget priorities

El Paso Water customers have an opportunity this month to weigh in on infrastructure investment, system reliability and affordability as the Public Service Board considers the utility’s FY 2027-28 budget.

EPWater is hosting community meetings across El Paso to give customers a closer look at four budget and rate scenarios. Each represents a different approach to investment and risk, with potential impacts on customer rates, staffing, maintenance and capital projects.

Rather than starting with a single proposed budget, the PSB asked staff to develop several scenarios to provide a clearer picture of the choices ahead.

The scenarios range from a combined water, wastewater and stormwater budget that is 27% lower than the current year’s $1.2 billion budget to one that is 25% higher. Lower spending could reduce near-term rate impacts but require projects to be delayed or canceled. Higher investment would allow EPWater to accelerate critical infrastructure projects but would mean higher customer rates.

The four scenarios include:

• Accelerated reliability — Makes the largest capital investment, including faster replacement of large pipelines to reduce the risk of breaks and outages.
• Strategic — Prioritizes the highest-needed capital projects while balancing reliability, affordability and financial risk.
• Lean — Reduces capital and operating expenses, including delaying 21 projects and eliminating approximately 140 positions.
• High risk — Makes the lowest capital investment, significantly deferring or canceling projects at four treatment plants, including the Pure Water Center, and eliminating 300 positions.

EPWater Vice President of Operations and Technical Services Gilbert Trejo said delaying projects can reduce the impact on rates in the short term, but those projects will eventually need to be completed and may cost more in the future.

“The cost of waiting is real,” he said.

Community meetings across El Paso

EPWater will host evening meetings in all eight City Council districts, along with an all-community meeting at the TecH₂O Water Resources Learning Center. Customers can attend a meeting near them to learn about the proposed budgets and rate impacts, ask questions and provide feedback.

Make your voice part of the conversation

Feedback received during the community meetings will be part of the PSB’s consideration as EPWater continues developing the FY 2027-28 budget.

The meetings will give customers an opportunity to understand the options and share their perspectives on how EPWater balances affordability with the investments needed to maintain reliable service now and into the future.

For more information about the budget process and community meetings, visit EPWater’s budget information page.

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