El Paso Electric seeks pipeline transport bids for new Fabens power plant

El Paso Electric has opened a competitive bid process for firm natural gas pipeline transportation to support a planned 460-megawatt gas-fired generating facility near Fabens, Texas. The company wants service ready for startup work by Nov. 1, 2028, with firm delivery no later than Dec. 1, 2028.

Why it matters: - El Paso Electric needs firm natural gas transport to support a new approximately 460-megawatt Fabens Power Station planned near Fabens, Texas. - The transportation contract will shape the plant’s fuel supply logistics, schedule and long-term operating cost. - EPE is looking for service that can support startup, commissioning, testing and operational validation on a fixed timeline.

What happened: - El Paso Electric issued a request for proposals on Sept. 14, 2026, seeking qualified pipeline owners, operators and developers. - The RFP seeks firm natural gas pipeline transportation capacity to the planned EPE-owned generating facility near Fabens. - EPE is asking for a base quantity of 105,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation capacity. - Receipt points must be within the Permian Basin, including the Waha and Keystone areas and other commercially viable Permian Basin receipt points. - Bidders may also offer partial-volume alternatives for 25,000, 50,000 and 75,000 dekatherms per day. - Bidders may also propose a separately priced expansion alternative of up to 200,000 dekatherms per day. - EPE may select one proposal, multiple proposals, a partial-volume proposal or no proposal, and may combine proposals to meet all or part of its needs.

The details: - Proposed solutions may use existing pipeline capacity, pipeline expansions, new facilities or a combination of those options. - The requested service must support a preferred first-gas date of Nov. 1, 2028, for line pack, startup, commissioning, testing and operational validation. - Guaranteed firm transportation service must begin no later than Dec. 1, 2028. - EPE is seeking an initial contract term of 20 years, though bidders may propose longer terms. - The solicitation covers pipeline transportation capacity and related facilities only. - The purchase of the natural gas commodity is outside the scope unless expressly identified as a separate alternative. - Both interstate and intrastate pipeline proposals will be accepted. - Proposals must provide a guaranteed minimum delivery pressure of 500 pounds per square inch gauge at the custody-transfer point while delivering the applicable maximum hourly quantity, subject to confirmation by EPE’s plant-design team. - The preliminary delivery location is in Fabens, El Paso County, Texas, near the coordinates listed in the RFP.

Between the lines: - EPE is using a competitive procurement process to weigh cost, reliability, flexibility, readiness and schedule risk across multiple pipeline options. - The evaluation will consider economic, technical, operational, environmental and financial factors. - Key screening items include total transportation cost, service firmness, receipt-point options, delivery pressure, hourly and intraday flexibility, imbalance provisions, operating restrictions, development risk, permitting status, financial capability, environmental impact and the bidder’s ability to meet the project schedule. - The structure of the RFP suggests EPE wants backup paths if a single full-volume pipeline solution is not available or not the best-value option.

What's next: - Notices of intent to bid are due Oct. 5, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time. - The final date to submit questions is Nov. 13, 2026. - Proposals are due Dec. 11, 2026, by 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time. - EPE plans to select primary and alternate proposals on Jan. 15, 2027. - The company tentatively expects to execute contracts on May 14, 2027. - Notices of intent and completed proposals must be submitted electronically in searchable PDF format to the EPE contacts listed in the RFP. - Proposals must remain open and valid through June 30, 2027, unless EPE agrees otherwise in writing. - EPE may modify, cancel, or withdraw the RFP and may revise the schedule if necessary. - RFP contacts are Victor Martinez, Director of Energy Resources, at Victor.Martinez@epelectric.com and 915-543-5792, and Daniel Holguin, Principal, Forward Marketing, at Daniel.Holguin@epelectric.com and 915-543-2009.

The bottom line: - El Paso Electric is lining up fuel transport for a major new gas plant in West Texas and wants bids that can deliver both reliability and schedule certainty. - The company serves about 465,000 customers across a 10,000-square-mile area from Hatch, New Mexico, to Van Horn, Texas, including El Paso and Las Cruces.