El Paso Electric officials are hoping to add an additional feature to the new, clean-looking, information-packed electric bills currently filling mailboxes -- a rate increase to pay for the $41.6 million they spent developing the new billing system.

El Paso Electric is seeking city and state regulatory approval to boost the average bill for a homeowner by $6 a month or nearly 10 percent, according to the El Paso Times today.

The Times said El Paso Electric tried and failed to develop a billing system in 2003, writing off $17.6 million as a loss. The new billing system alone cost $24 million.

Contact Mark Lisheron at 512-299-2318 or mark@texaswatchdog.org