Exhibit

“Despite the continued impact of regulatory lag on earnings, we are reporting net income of $0.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2015,” said Mary Kipp, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “Reflecting back on last year, we accomplished a number of critical objectives, including the completion of the first two generating units at the Montana Power Station along with our Eastside Operations Center. We have also continued construction of Units 3 & 4 at the Montana Power Station and filed for increases in base rates in both our Texas and New Mexico service territories. Our region continues to grow as evidenced by an increase in customers and reaching a new native system peak in August 2015. We remain on-track and are now focused on key objectives for 2016.”



		Quarter Ended									Twelve Months Ended
		Pre-Tax Effect			After-Tax Net Income			Basic EPS			Pre-Tax Effect			After-Tax Net Income			Basic EPS
December 31, 2014					$	4,241		$	0.10					$	91,428		$	2.27
Changes in:
	Allowance for funds used during construction	$	(3,180	)	(2,846		)	(0.07		)	$	(5,454	)	(4,953		)	(0.12		)
	Administrative and general expense	(2,877		)	(1,870		)	(0.04		)	(2,543		)	(1,653		)	(0.04		)
	Depreciation and amortization	(1,738		)	(1,130		)	(0.03		)	(6,482		)	(4,214		)	(0.10		)
	Interest on long-term debt	(1,183		)	(768		)	(0.02		)	(6,823		)	(4,435		)	(0.11		)
	Deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3	(990		)	(644		)	(0.02		)	(5,352		)	(3,479		)	(0.09		)
	Investment and interest income	(152		)	(148		)	—			3,875			3,084			0.07
	O&M at fossil-fuel generating plants	3,853			2,506			0.06			(452		)	(294		)	—
	Retail non-fuel base revenues	1,423			925			0.02			14,292			9,290			0.23
	Palo Verde performance rewards, net	—			—			—			(2,143		)	(1,415		)	(0.04		)
	Other				382			0.02						(1,441		)	(0.04		)
December 31, 2015					$	648		$	0.02					$	81,918		$	2.03

The completion of Montana Power Station ("MPS") Units 1 & 2 (including common plant, transmission lines and substation) and the Eastside Operations Center ("EOC") continues to have a negative impact on the Company's financial results due to regulatory lag associated with the placement in service of these assets without a corresponding increase in revenues. This trend will continue until new and higher rates become effective. The primary impact from these assets being placed in service include a reduction in amounts capitalized for allowance for funds used during construction ("AFUDC"), and increases in depreciation, operations and maintenance expense, property taxes and interest cost.

Retail non-fuel base revenues increased $1.4 million, pre-tax, or 1.2%, in the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. This increase includes a $1.4 million increase in revenues from residential customers and a $0.2 million increase in revenues from our small commercial and industrial customers reflecting favorable weather and a 1.4% increase in the average number of customers served. Cooling degree days increased 5.9% for the fourth quarter of 2015, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, and were 17.1% over the 10-year average. Heating degree days increased 3.6% for the three months ended December 31, 2015, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, and were 4.1% below the 10-year average. Retail non-fuel base revenues from large commercial and industrial customers and sales to public authorities decreased less than 1.0% compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. Non-fuel base revenues and kWh sales are provided by customer class on page 11 of this release.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, retail non-fuel base revenues increased $14.3 million, or 2.6%, compared to 2014. This increase includes an $11.9 million increase in revenues from residential customers and a $2.0 million increase in revenues from small commercial and industrial customers reflecting hotter summer weather and increases of 1.3% and 1.6%, respectively, in the average number of customers. Retail non-fuel revenues from large commercial and industrial customers increased $1.2 million. KWh sales to public authorities increased 1.5% while revenue declined by $0.8 million due to a military installation moving a portion of their load to an interruptible rate. Cooling degree days increased 6.3% in 2015, when compared to 2014, and were 5.3% over the 10-year average. Heating degree days increased 10.3% in 2015, compared to 2014, and were 3.6% below the 10-year average. Non-fuel base revenues and kWh sales are provided by customer class on page 13 of this release.

On May 11, 2015, the Company filed with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission ("NMPRC"), NMPRC Case No. 15-00127-UT, for an annual increase in non-fuel base rates of approximately $8.6 million or 7.1%. The filing also requests an annual reduction of $15.4 million, or 21.5%, for fuel and purchased power costs recovered in base rates. Subsequently, the Company reduced its requested increase in non-fuel base rates to approximately $6.4 million. On February 16, 2016, the Hearing Examiner issued a Recommended Decision to the NMPRC proposing an annual increase in non-fuel base rates of approximately $640 thousand. On February 17, 2016, the NMPRC issued an order extending the suspension period in the rate case from March 10, 2016 until April 8, 2016, by which time the NMPRC is expected to either issue a final order with new rates to go into effect in the second quarter of 2016 or again extend the suspension period further to as late as June 10, 2016. All parties will be allowed to file exceptions before the NMPRC ultimately rules on the issues by final order. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the rate case at this time.

On August 10, 2015, the Company filed with the City of El Paso, other municipalities incorporated in its Texas service territory and the PUCT in Docket No. 44941, a request for an increase in non-fuel base revenues of approximately $71.5 million. On January 15, 2016, the Company filed its rebuttal testimony modifying the requested increase to $63.3 million. The Company has invoked its statutory right to have its new rates relate back for consumption on and after January 12, 2016, which is the 155th day after the filing. The difference in rates that would have been collected will be surcharged or refunded to customers beginning after the PUCT's final order in Docket No. 44941, which is expected to be in the second quarter of 2016. The PUCT has the authority to require the Company to surcharge or refund such difference over a period not to exceed 18 months. On January 21, 2016, the Company, the City of El Paso, the PUCT staff, the Office of Public Utility Counsel and the Texas Industrial Energy Consumers filed a joint motion to abate the procedural schedule to facilitate settlement talks. This motion was granted. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the rate case at this time.

We continue to maintain a strong capital structure in which common stock equity represented 44.3% of our capitalization (common stock equity, long-term debt, current maturities of long-term debt and short-term borrowings under the revolving credit facility). At December 31, 2015, we had a balance of $8.1 million in cash and cash equivalents. Based on current projections, we believe that we will have adequate liquidity through the issuance of long-term debt, our current cash balances, cash from operations and available borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility ("RCF") to meet all of our anticipated cash requirements for the next 12 months.

Cash flows from operations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 were $246.7 million, compared to $243.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. A component of cash flows from operations is the change in net over-collection and under-collection of fuel revenues. The difference between fuel revenues collected and fuel expense incurred is deferred to be either refunded (over-recoveries) or surcharged (under-recoveries) to customers in the future. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, the Company had a fuel over-recovery of $13.3 million compared to an under-recovery of fuel costs of $3.1 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. At December 31, 2015, we had a net fuel over-recovery balance of $4.0 million, including an over-recovery of $0.1 million in Texas, $3.8 million in the New Mexico and $0.1 million in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") jurisdiction. On April 15, 2015, we filed a request to lower our Texas fixed fuel factor by approximately 24% to reflect a change in fuel costs primarily related to a reduction in natural gas prices. This decrease was effective with May 2015 billings.

During the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, our primary capital requirements were for the construction and purchase of electric utility plant, payment of common stock dividends, and purchases of nuclear fuel. Capital requirements for new electric utility plant were $281.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015 and $277.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. Capital expenditures for 2016 are expected to be $231.1 million. Capital requirements for purchases of nuclear fuel were $42.0 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, and $37.9 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014.

On January 28, 2016, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.295 per share payable on March 31, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 15, 2016. On December 30, 2015, we paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.295 per share, or $11.9 million, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 15, 2015. We paid a total of $47.1 million in cash dividends during the twelve months ended December 31, 2015. We expect to continue paying quarterly cash dividends during 2016.

We maintain the RCF for working capital and general corporate purposes and financing of nuclear fuel through the Rio Grande Resources Trust (the "RGRT"). The RGRT, the trust through which we finance our portion of nuclear fuel for Palo Verde, is consolidated in the Company's financial statements. The RCF has a term ending January 14, 2019. The aggregate unsecured borrowing available under the RCF is $300 million. We may increase the RCF by up to $100 million (up to a total of $400 million) during the term of the agreement, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, more fully set forth in the agreement, including obtaining commitments from lenders or third party financial institutions. In August 2015, the RGRT $15.0 million Series A 3.67% Senior Notes matured and were paid utilizing funds borrowed under the RCF. The total amount borrowed for nuclear fuel by the RGRT was $128.7 million at December 31, 2015, of which $33.7 million had been borrowed under the RCF, and $95.0 million was borrowed through the issuance of senior notes. Borrowings by the RGRT for nuclear fuel were $124.5 million as of December 31, 2014, of which $14.5 million had been borrowed under the RCF and $110.0 million was borrowed through the issuance of senior notes. Interest costs on borrowings to finance nuclear fuel are accumulated by the RGRT and charged to us as fuel is consumed and recovered through fuel recovery charges. At December 31, 2015, $108.0 million was outstanding under the RCF for working capital and general corporate purposes. No borrowings were outstanding at December 31, 2014 under the RCF for working capital and general corporate purposes. Total aggregate borrowings under the RCF at December 31, 2015 were $141.7 million with an additional $157.8 million available to borrow.

We received approval from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on October 7, 2015, and from the FERC on October 19, 2015, to issue up to $310 million in new long-term debt and to guarantee the issuance of up to $65 million of new debt by the RGRT to finance future purchases of nuclear fuel and to refinance existing nuclear fuel debt obligations. We also requested approval from the FERC to continue to utilize our existing RCF without change from the FERC’s previously approved authorization. The FERC authorization is effective from November 15, 2015 through November 15, 2017. The approvals granted in these cases supersede prior approvals.

On May 11, 2015 and August 10, 2015, the Company filed rate cases in New Mexico and Texas, respectively, as discussed above. The outcome of these cases are expected to have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations in 2016. Since we cannot predict the outcome of these rate cases, the Company has decided not to provide earnings guidance at this time. However, we will continue to provide management's outlook on key earnings drivers on the Company's February 24, 2016 conference call.

A conference call to discuss 2015 financial results is scheduled for 10:30 A.M. Eastern Time, on February 24, 2016. The dial-in number is 888-430-8694 with a conference ID number of 7522946. The international dial-in number is 719-457-1035. The conference leader will be Lisa Budtke, Director Treasury Services and Investor Relations. A replay will run through March 9, 2016 with a dial-in number of 888-203-1112 and a conference ID number of 7522946. The replay international dial-in number is 719-457-0820. The conference call and presentation slides will be webcast live on the Company's website found at http://www.epelectric.com. A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the call.

This news release includes statements that are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This information may involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements is contained

in EE's most recently filed periodic reports and in other filings made by EE with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and include, but is not limited to: (i) increased prices for fuel and purchased power and the possibility that regulators may not permit EE to pass through all such increased costs to customers or to recover previously incurred fuel costs in rates; (ii) full and timely recovery of capital investments and operating costs through rates in Texas and New Mexico; (iii) uncertainties and instability in the general economy and the resulting impact on EE's sales and profitability; (iv) changes in customers' demand for electricity as a result of energy efficiency initiatives and emerging competing services and technologies, including distributed generation; (v) unanticipated increased costs associated with scheduled and unscheduled outages of generating plant; (vi) the size of our construction program and our ability to complete construction on budget and on time; (vii) potential delays in our construction schedule due to legal challenges or other reasons; (viii) costs at Palo Verde; (ix) deregulation and competition in the electric utility industry; (x) possible increased costs of compliance with environmental or other laws, regulations and policies; (xi) possible income tax and interest payments as a result of audit adjustments proposed by the IRS or state taxing authorities; (xii) uncertainties and instability in the financial markets and the resulting impact on EE's ability to access the capital and credit markets; (xiii) possible physical or cyber attacks, intrusions or other catastrophic events; and (xiv) other factors of which we are currently unaware or deem immaterial. EE's filings are available from the SEC or may be obtained through EE's website, http://www.epelectric.com. Any such forward-looking statement is qualified by reference to these risks and factors. EE cautions that these risks and factors are not exclusive. Management cautions against putting undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or prior earnings levels. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release, and EE does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement contained herein.



El Paso Electric Company
Statements of Operations
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
(In thousands except for per share data)
(Unaudited)

		2015			2014		Variance

Operating revenues, net of energy expenses:
	Base revenues	$	116,163		$	114,728	$	1,435		(a)
	Deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues	2,119			3,109		(990		)
	Other	7,452			8,812		(1,360		)
Operating Revenues Net of Energy Expenses		125,734			126,649		(915		)

Other operating expenses:
	Other operations and maintenance	49,849			51,722		(1,873		)
	Palo Verde operations and maintenance	29,937			31,183		(1,246		)
Taxes other than income taxes		14,892			13,867		1,025
Other income		3,918			4,867		(949		)
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization		34,974			34,744		230			(b)

Depreciation and amortization		22,744			21,006		1,738
Interest on long-term debt		16,408			15,225		1,183
AFUDC and capitalized interest		5,004			8,269		(3,265		)
Other interest expense		372			351		21
Income Before Income Taxes		454			6,431		(5,977		)

Income tax expense (benefit)		(194		)	2,190		(2,384		)

Net Income		$	648		$	4,241	$	(3,593	)

Basic Earnings per Share		$	0.02		$	0.10	$	(0.08	)

Diluted Earnings per Share		$	0.02		$	0.10	$	(0.08	)

Dividends declared per share of common stock		$	0.295		$	0.280	$	0.015

Weighted average number of shares outstanding		40,297			40,220		77

Weighted average number of shares and dilutive
	potential shares outstanding	40,335			40,220		115

(a)	Base revenues exclude fuel recovered through New Mexico base rates of $16.4 million and $16.0 million, respectively.
(b)	Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") is a non-generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") financial measure and is not a substitute for net income or other measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP.



El Paso Electric Company
Statements of Operations
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
(In thousands except for per share data)
(Unaudited)

		2015		2014		Variance

Operating revenues, net of energy expenses:
	Base revenues	$	567,811	$	553,341	$	14,470		(a)
	Deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues	9,660		15,012		(5,352		)
	Palo Verde performance rewards, net	—		2,220		(2,220		)
	Other	30,453		31,143		(690		)
Operating Revenues Net of Energy Expenses		607,924		601,716		6,208

Other operating expenses:
	Other operations and maintenance	210,534		205,237		5,297
	Palo Verde operations and maintenance	97,639		99,224		(1,585		)
Taxes other than income taxes		63,736		62,750		986
Other income		15,242		13,509		1,733
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization		251,257		248,014		3,243			(b)

Depreciation and amortization		89,824		83,342		6,482
Interest on long-term debt		65,851		59,028		6,823
AFUDC and capitalized interest		22,544		28,122		(5,578		)
Other interest expense		1,313		1,250		63
Income Before Income Taxes		116,813		132,516		(15,703		)

Income tax expense		34,895		41,088		(6,193		)

Net Income		$	81,918	$	91,428	$	(9,510	)

Basic Earnings per Share		$	2.03	$	2.27	$	(0.24	)

Diluted Earnings per Share		$	2.03	$	2.27	$	(0.24	)

Dividends declared per share of common stock		$	1.165	$	1.105	$	0.060

Weighted average number of shares outstanding		40,275		40,191		84

Weighted average number of shares and dilutive
	potential shares outstanding	40,309		40,212		97

(a)	Base revenues exclude fuel recovered through New Mexico base rates of $72.1 million and $71.6 million, respectively.
(b)	Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") is a non-generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") financial measure and is not a substitute for net income or other measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP.



El Paso Electric Company
Cash Flow Summary
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
(In thousands and Unaudited)

				2015			2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
	Net income			$	81,918		$	91,428
	Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
		Depreciation and amortization of electric plant in service		89,824			83,342
		Amortization of nuclear fuel		43,099			43,864
		Deferred income taxes, net		30,846			39,129
		Net gains on sale of decommissioning trust funds		(11,114		)	(7,350		)
		Other		6,927			1,533
	Change in:
		Accounts receivable		4,839			(5,815		)
		Net over-collection (under-collection) of fuel revenues		13,344			(3,121		)
		Accounts payable		(11,235		)	9,684
		Other		(1,777		)	(9,354		)
			Net cash provided by operating activities	246,671			243,340

Cash flows from investing activities:
	Cash additions to utility property, plant and equipment			(281,458		)	(277,078		)
	Cash additions to nuclear fuel			(41,966		)	(37,877		)
	Decommissioning trust funds			(7,656		)	(9,364		)
	Other			(11,654		)	(6,873		)
			Net cash used for investing activities	(342,734		)	(331,192		)

Cash flows from financing activities:
	Dividends paid			(47,059		)	(44,556		)
	Borrowings under the revolving credit facility, net			127,206			180
	Payment on maturing RGRT senior notes			(15,000		)	—
	Proceeds from issuance of senior notes			—			149,468
	Other			(1,439		)	(2,328		)
			Net cash provided by financing activities	63,708			102,764

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents				(32,355		)	14,912

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				40,504			25,592

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period				$	8,149		$	40,504



El Paso Electric Company
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
Sales and Revenues Statistics

										Increase (Decrease)
					2015			2014		Amount			Percentage
kWh sales (in thousands):
	Retail:
		Residential			567,548			552,977		14,571			2.6	%
		Commercial and industrial, small			548,583			548,369		214			—
		Commercial and industrial, large			260,480			269,584		(9,104		)	(3.4	)%
		Public authorities			363,381			360,381		3,000			0.8	%
			Total retail sales		1,739,992			1,731,311		8,681			0.5	%
	Wholesale:
		Sales for resale			8,772			9,798		(1,026		)	(10.5	)%
		Off-system sales			587,732			606,749		(19,017		)	(3.1	)%
			Total wholesale sales		596,504			616,547		(20,043		)	(3.3	)%
				Total kWh sales	2,336,496			2,347,858		(11,362		)	(0.5	)%
Operating revenues (in thousands):
	Non-fuel base revenues:
		Retail:
			Residential		$	49,100		$	47,653	$	1,447		3.0	%
			Commercial and industrial, small		38,636			38,449		187			0.5	%
			Commercial and industrial, large		8,956			9,019		(63		)	(0.7	)%
			Public authorities		19,081			19,229		(148		)	(0.8	)%
				Total retail non-fuel base revenues	115,773			114,350		1,423			1.2	%
		Wholesale:
			Sales for resale		390			378		12			3.2	%
				Total non-fuel base revenues	116,163			114,728		1,435			1.3	%
	Fuel revenues:
		Recovered from customers during the period			24,780			34,945		(10,165		)	(29.1	)%
		Under (over) collection of fuel			(2,409		)	1,887		(4,296		)	—
		New Mexico fuel in base rates			16,364			15,971		393			2.5	%
			Total fuel revenues (a)		38,735			52,803		(14,068		)	(26.6	)%
	Off-system sales:
		Fuel cost			11,202			13,246		(2,044		)	(15.4	)%
		Shared margins			2,350			6,602		(4,252		)	(64.4	)%
		Retained margins			407			418		(11		)	(2.6	)%
			Total off-system sales		13,959			20,266		(6,307		)	(31.1	)%
	Other (b) (c)				8,045			8,766		(721		)	(8.2	)%
			Total operating revenues		$	176,902		$	196,563	$	(19,661	)	(10.0	)%

(a)	Includes deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues for the New Mexico jurisdiction of $2.1 million and $3.1 million, respectively.
(b)	Includes energy efficiency bonuses of $1.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively.
(c)	Represents revenues with no related kWh sales.



El Paso Electric Company
Three Months Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
Other Statistical Data

					Increase (Decrease)
			2015	2014	Amount		Percentage

Average number of retail customers: (a)
	Residential		358,712	353,657	5,055		1.4	%
	Commercial and industrial, small		40,380	39,969	411		1.0	%
	Commercial and industrial, large		48	49	(1	)	(2.0	)%
	Public authorities		5,270	5,090	180		3.5	%
		Total	404,410	398,765	5,645		1.4	%

Number of retail customers (end of period): (a)
	Residential		358,819	353,885	4,934		1.4	%
	Commercial and industrial, small		40,367	40,038	329		0.8	%
	Commercial and industrial, large		49	49	—		—
	Public authorities		5,261	5,017	244		4.9	%
		Total	404,496	398,989	5,507		1.4	%

Weather statistics: (b)					10-Yr Average
	Cooling degree days		144	136	123
	Heating degree days		889	858	927

Generation and purchased power (kWh, in thousands):					Increase (Decrease)
			2015	2014	Amount		Percentage

	Palo Verde		1,196,316	1,180,602	15,714		1.3	%
	Four Corners		184,328	159,363	24,965		15.7	%
	Gas plants		744,329	889,502	(145,173	)	(16.3	)%
		Total generation	2,124,973	2,229,467	(104,494	)	(4.7	)%
	Purchased power:
		Photovoltaic	53,423	53,941	(518	)	(1.0	)%
		Other	286,227	188,194	98,033		52.1	%
		Total purchased power	339,650	242,135	97,515		40.3	%
		Total available energy	2,464,623	2,471,602	(6,979	)	(0.3	)%
	Line losses and Company use		128,127	123,744	4,383		3.5	%
		Total kWh sold	2,336,496	2,347,858	(11,362	)	(0.5	)%



	Palo Verde capacity factor	87.0	%	85.9	%	1.1	%

(a)	The number of retail customers is based on the number of service locations.

(b)	A degree day is recorded for each degree that the average outdoor temperature varies from a standard of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.



El Paso Electric Company
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
Sales and Revenues Statistics

										Increase (Decrease)
					2015			2014		Amount			Percentage
kWh sales (in thousands):
	Retail:
		Residential			2,771,138			2,640,535		130,603			4.9	%
		Commercial and industrial, small			2,384,514			2,357,846		26,668			1.1	%
		Commercial and industrial, large			1,062,662			1,064,475		(1,813		)	(0.2	)%
		Public authorities			1,585,568			1,562,784		22,784			1.5	%
			Total retail sales		7,803,882			7,625,640		178,242			2.3	%
	Wholesale:
		Sales for resale			63,347			61,729		1,618			2.6	%
		Off-system sales			2,500,947			2,609,769		(108,822		)	(4.2	)%
			Total wholesale sales		2,564,294			2,671,498		(107,204		)	(4.0	)%
				Total kWh sales	10,368,176			10,297,138		71,038			0.7	%
Operating revenues (in thousands):
	Non-fuel base revenues:
		Retail:
			Residential		$	246,265		$	234,371	$	11,894		5.1	%
			Commercial and industrial, small		187,436			185,388		2,048			1.1	%
			Commercial and industrial, large		40,411			39,239		1,172			3.0	%
			Public authorities		91,244			92,066		(822		)	(0.9	)%
				Total retail non-fuel base revenues	565,356			551,064		14,292			2.6	%
		Wholesale:
			Sales for resale		2,455			2,277		178			7.8	%
				Total non-fuel base revenues	567,811			553,341		14,470			2.6	%

	Fuel revenues:
		Recovered from customers during the period			127,765			161,052		(33,287		)	(20.7	)%
		Under (over) collection of fuel (a)			(13,342		)	3,110		(16,452		)	—
		New Mexico fuel in base rates			72,129			71,614		515			0.7	%
			Total fuel revenues (b)		186,552			235,776		(49,224		)	(20.9	)%

	Off-system sales:
		Fuel cost			52,406			74,716		(22,310		)	(29.9	)%
		Shared margins			11,048			21,117		(10,069		)	(47.7	)%
		Retained margins			1,362			2,147		(785		)	(36.6	)%
			Total off-system sales		64,816			97,980		(33,164		)	(33.8	)%
	Other (c) (d)				30,690			30,428		262			0.9	%
			Total operating revenues		$	849,869		$	917,525	$	(67,656	)	(7.4	)%

(a)	Includes Department of Energy refunds related to spent fuel storage of $5.8 million and $7.9 million, respectively. 2014 includes $2.2 million related to Palo Verde performance rewards, net.
(b)	Includes deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues for the New Mexico jurisdiction of $9.7 million and $15.0 million, respectively.
(c)	Includes energy efficiency bonuses of $1.3 million and $2.0 million, respectively.
(d)	Represents revenues with no related kWh sales.



El Paso Electric Company
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014
Other Statistical Data

					Increase (Decrease)
			2015	2014	Amount		Percentage

Average number of retail customers: (a)
	Residential		356,969	352,277	4,692		1.3	%
	Commercial and industrial, small		40,250	39,600	650		1.6	%
	Commercial and industrial, large		49	49	—		—
	Public authorities		5,250	5,088	162		3.2	%
		Total	402,518	397,014	5,504		1.4	%

Number of retail customers (end of period): (a)
	Residential		358,819	353,885	4,934		1.4	%
	Commercial and industrial, small		40,367	40,038	329		0.8	%
	Commercial and industrial, large		49	49	—		—
	Public authorities		5,261	5,017	244		4.9	%
		Total	404,496	398,989	5,507		1.4	%

Weather statistics: (b)					10-Yr Average
	Cooling degree days		2,839	2,671	2,696
	Heating degree days		2,095	1,900	2,174

Generation and purchased power (kWh, in thousands):					Increase (Decrease)
			2015	2014	Amount		Percentage

	Palo Verde		5,136,686	5,106,668	30,018		0.6	%
	Four Corners		657,744	596,252	61,492		10.3	%
	Gas plants		3,790,659	3,774,209	16,450		0.4	%
		Total generation	9,585,089	9,477,129	107,960		1.1	%
	Purchased power:
	Photovoltaic		277,241	227,979	49,262		21.6	%
	Other		1,113,705	1,162,511	(48,806	)	(4.2	)%
		Total purchased power	1,390,946	1,390,490	456		—
		Total available energy	10,976,035	10,867,619	108,416		1.0	%
	Line losses and Company use		607,859	570,481	37,378		6.6	%
	Total kWh sold		10,368,176	10,297,138	71,038		0.7	%



El Paso Electric Company
Financial Statistics
At December 31, 2015 and 2014
(In thousands, except number of shares, book value per common share, and ratios)

Balance Sheet		2015			2014

Cash and cash equivalents		$	8,149		$	40,504

Common stock equity		$	1,016,538		$	984,254
Long-term debt		1,134,284			1,134,179
	Total capitalization	$	2,150,822		$	2,118,433

Current maturities of long-term debt		$	—		$	15,000

Short-term borrowings under the revolving credit facility		$	141,738		$	14,532

Number of shares - end of period		40,443,819			40,356,624

Book value per common share		$	25.13		$	24.39

Common equity ratio (a)		44.3		%	45.8		%
Debt ratio		55.7		%	54.2		%

(a)	The capitalization component includes common stock equity, long-term debt and the current maturities of long-term debt, and short-term borrowings under the RCF.



		News Release
For Immediate Release		News Release
Date: February 24, 2016



Media Contacts
Eddie Gutierrez
915.543.5763
eduardo.gutierrez@epelectric.com

Investor Relations
Lisa Budtke
915.543.5947
lisa.budtke@epelectric.com


•	For the fourth quarter of 2015, El Paso Electric Company ("EE" or the "Company") reported net income of $0.6 million, or $0.02 basic and diluted earnings per share. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $4.2 million, or $0.10 basic and diluted earnings per share.



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	El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O.Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960


•	Decreased AFUDC due to lower balances of construction work in progress (“CWIP”), primarily due to MPS Units 1 & 2 and the EOC being placed in service during the first quarter of 2015 and a reduction in the AFUDC rate.


•	Increased administrative and general expenses primarily due to (i) increased payroll costs and employee incentive compensation, and (ii) increased pension and benefits costs due to changes in actuarial assumptions used to calculate expenses for the post-retirement employee benefit plan and increased medical claims paid.



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	El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O.Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960


•	Increased depreciation and amortization related to an increase in depreciable plant, primarily due to MPS Units 1 & 2 and the EOC being placed in service during the first quarter of 2015, partially offset by a change in the estimated useful life of certain large intangible software packages.


•	Increased interest on long-term debt due to the interest accrued on $150 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes issued in December 2014.


•	Decreased deregulated Palo Verde Unit 3 revenues, primarily due to a 27.5% decrease in proxy market prices reflecting a decline in the price of natural gas.


•	Decreased operations and maintenance expense related to our fossil-fuel generating plants, primarily due to decreased maintenance related to Four Corners Unit 5 and Newman Unit 4 in 2015. These decreases were partially offset by operations and maintenance expense at MPS in 2015, with no comparable expense during 2014.


•	Increased retail non-fuel base revenues, primarily due to increased revenues from our residential customers resulting from favorable weather and a 1.4% increase in the average number of customers.




www.epelectric.com


•	Decreased amounts of AFUDC capitalized due to lower balances of construction work in process primarily due to MPS Units 1 & 2, and the EOC being placed in service during the first quarter of 2015 and a reduction in the AFUDC rate.


•	Recognition of Palo Verde performance rewards associated with the 2009 to 2012 performance periods, net of disallowed fuel and purchased power costs related to the resolution of the Texas fuel reconciliation proceeding designated as Public Utility Commission of Texas ("PUCT") Docket No. 41852 recorded in June 2014 with no comparable amount in 2015.



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	El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O.Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960


•	Increased investment and interest income due to further diversification and re-balancing of the Company’s Palo Verde decommissioning trust fund portfolio.



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	El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O.Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960



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	El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O.Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960



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	El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O.Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960



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	El Paso Electric Ÿ P.O.Box 982 Ÿ El Paso, Texas 79960



	Palo Verde capacity factor	94.3	%	93.7	%	0.6	%

(a)	The number of retail customers presented is based on the number of service locations.

(b)	A degree day is recorded for each degree that the average outdoor temperature varies from a standard of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.