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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L3J610CDaGjhXmIuB+OAyPfqwNE30oNlCAsHud9cxFgqmn6ajApkyHP75r0zbnIr
 ESOGed7He/+zoECad2h1iQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-05-068675.txt : 20051223
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-05-068675.hdr.sgml : 20051223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051223111533
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-05-068675
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051223

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:			SIEGEL ERIC B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186797

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14206
		FILM NUMBER:		051284370

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		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>rrd101258.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000031978</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EL PASO ELECTRIC CO /TX/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186797</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIEGEL ERIC B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>914 NORTH WHITTIER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>240</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.17</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34930</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Norma J. Ayoub as attorney in fact for Eric B. Siegel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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