POWER OF ATTORNEY
Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby constitutes
and appoints each of Nathan T. Hirschi, John R. Boomer, Jessica Goldman,
Norma J. Ayoub and Michelle Pedroza, as the undersigned?s true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact to:(1) execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned?s capacity as a reporting person pursuant to Section 16 of the
SecuritiesExchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ?Exchange Act?), and the
rules thereunder of El Paso Electric Company (the ?Company?),
Forms 3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act;
(2) do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned
which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute any such
Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission and stock exchange or similar authority; and
(3) take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
foregoing which, in the opinion of any of such attorneys-in-fact, may be
of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned,
it being understood that the documents executed by any of such
attorneys-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this
Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms
and conditions as any of such attorneys-in-fact may approve in the
discretion of any of such attorneys-in-fact.
The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full
power and authority to do and perform any and every act and thing
whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the exercise
of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally
present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that any of such attorneys-in-fact,
or the substitute or substitutes of any of such attorneys-in-fact,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of
Attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.  The
undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact,
in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are
not assuming, nor is the Company assuming, any of the undersigned?s
responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until
the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and
5 with respect to the undersigned?s holdings of and
transactions in securities issued by the Company, unless earlier
revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this
Power of Attorney to be executed as of this
30th day of  SEPTEMBER, 2015.
Signature:  /s/ JAMES W. CICCONI
Name:  	JAMES W. CICCONI