Rio Grande
Dona Ana County, New Mexico · EIA plant ID 2444 · Operator: El Paso Electric Co
×50 MW natural gas retired since 2020 (latest Sep 2025)
Nameplate348MWSummer 265 MW
Generators3in service
Net generation892GWh12 mo to Aug 2026
Capacity factor38%gas/coal/oil units, summer MW
Heat rate12,097Btu/kWhfossil units, electric fuel, HHV
First online1958Runs as intermediate
The 12-month figures include preliminary EIA-923 months, which EIA revises. Final data runs through Dec 2025.
Monthly net generation
EIA-923, all units at the plant. Net of station use; storage can go negative.
FinalPreliminary
Capacity factor by year
Net MWh ÷ (summer MW × hours), gas/coal/oil units. Each year uses that year's EIA-860 ratings; the hollow dot is the latest 12 months.
Heat rate by year
Electric fuel MMBtu × 1000 ÷ net MWh (Btu/kWh, HHV), fossil units only; CT + CA counted as one combined-cycle block.
Annual data table
| Year | Net GWh | Capacity factor | Heat rate (Btu/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 749.9 | — | — |
| 2002 | 720.5 | — | — |
| 2003 | 785.9 | 38.8% | 11,554 |
| 2004 | 673.2 | 33.2% | 11,688 |
| 2005 | 688.9 | 34.0% | 11,703 |
| 2006 | 608.4 | 30.3% | 11,816 |
| 2007 | 639.5 | 30.9% | 11,743 |
| 2008 | 737.8 | 35.6% | 11,554 |
| 2009 | 471.2 | 22.8% | 11,654 |
| 2010 | 729.7 | 35.3% | 11,584 |
| 2011 | 701.4 | 33.9% | 11,778 |
| 2012 | 753.9 | 36.4% | 11,574 |
| 2013 | 736.8 | 28.5% | 11,311 |
| 2014 | 965.5 | 34.0% | 11,168 |
| 2015 | 671 | 23.6% | 11,400 |
| 2016 | 766.6 | 26.9% | 12,063 |
| 2017 | 828.5 | 29.2% | 12,048 |
| 2018 | 642 | 22.8% | 12,129 |
| 2019 | 927.2 | 32.8% | 11,483 |
| 2020 | 884.1 | 31.2% | 11,422 |
| 2021 | 727.5 | 26.1% | 11,734 |
| 2022 | 606.4 | 22.1% | 11,340 |
| 2023 | 895.1 | 32.6% | 11,191 |
| 2024 | 985.2 | 35.8% | 10,548 |
| 2025 | 789.9 | 30.7% | 12,157 |
Generators
EIA-860 (annual) with EIA-860M updates through Sep 2026. EIA-923 reports generation by plant, prime mover and fuel, not by unit, so unit-level output isn't shown.
| Gen ID | Technology | Prime mover | Nameplate MW | Summer MW | Online | Status | Planned retirement | OEM / model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 50 | 43 | Jun 1958 | Operating · retirement planned | Dec 2027 | coming soon |
| 8 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 166.5 | 139 | Jul 1972 | Operating · retirement planned | Dec 2033 | coming soon |
| 9 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 131.8 | 83 | May 2013 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| 6 | Natural Gas Steam Turbine | ST | 50 | 43 | Jun 1957 | Retired Sep 2025 | — | coming soon |
Owner / operator
Operator: El Paso Electric Co. Ownership shares by in-service nameplate MW (EIA-860 Schedule 4; units not listed there are wholly owned by the operator).
| El Paso Electric Co | 100.0% | 348 MW |
Nearby plants
Within 80 km.
| Four Peaks Camino Real | retired | 4.4 km |
| Providence Memorial Hospital | 4 MW | 5.8 km |
| Milagro Solar I | 225 MW | 9 km |
| Roadrunner Solar | 20 MW | 12 km |
| Santa Teresa Solar | 150 MW | 14.3 km |
| Phelps Dodge Refining | 20 MW | 15.4 km |