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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BsyyaLVO34mBlJBAQqAUw/irWnAIZFd3hniA9qpyTXDI4L3+tRtx5j5nznikRJBb
 Az5qPaxOSGw8uv+T/hjaeA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-009100.txt : 20030528
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-009100.hdr.sgml : 20030528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030528125411
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-009100
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030528

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EL PASO ELECTRIC CO /TX/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000031978
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				740607870
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		303 N OREGON ST
		CITY:			EL PASO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9155435711

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BASSHAM TERRY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189512

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14206
		FILM NUMBER:		03721177

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		123  W MILLS
		CITY:			EL PASO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		915 543 5711

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		123 W MILLS
		CITY:			EL PASO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			79901
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd9849.xml
<DESCRIPTION>STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-05-27</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000031978</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EL PASO ELECTRIC CO /TX/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer>
<reportingOwner>
<reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189512</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BASSHAM TERRY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Chief Fin. &amp; Admin. Officer</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-05-27</value></transactionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value></transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>3500</value></transactionShares>
<transactionValue>
<value>11.52</value></transactionValue>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>7608</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Carol H. Bohle as attorney-in-fact for Terry D. Bassham</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-05-28</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>


</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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