Electric companies in Lea County, New Mexico
Lea County, NM ranks 3rd of 33 New Mexico counties for damaging wind risk, FEMA score 82.2. Lea County, NM has 73,154 residents. Lea County, NM: 3 utilities listed by EIA. Lea County, NM: home electricity prices of 8.91 to 11.98 cents per kWh.
Lea County, NM on the map
Lea County, NM darker: more storm events
Outage risk in Lea County, NM
Lea County, NM, NWS storm events 2015 to 2025: 174 in all, 237.9 per 100,000 residents of 73,154, rank 15 of 33 New Mexico counties. Property damage in Lea County, NM: $4.3M.
Events by year in Lea County, NM
events a year, Lea County, NM
- 10'15
- 5'16
- 20'17
- 8'18
- 14'19
- 2'20
- 13'21
- 7'22
- 45'23
- 17'24
- 33'25
Events by type
| Lea County, NM | FEMA | Score | Rank | Events | Peak | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lea County, NM, thunderstorm and high wind | Relatively Moderate | 82.2 | 3 of 33 | 160 | 2023 (43) | $4.3M |
| Lea County, NM, tornado | Relatively Low | 54.5 | 3 of 33 | 4 | 2023 (2) | $0 |
| Lea County, NM, hurricane and tropical storm | Very Low | 39.8 | 1 of 16 | 0 | none | $0 |
| Lea County, NM, ice storm | Relatively Moderate | 64.3 | 7 of 33 | 1 | 2015 (1) | $0 |
| Lea County, NM, winter storm and heavy snow | Relatively High | 89.3 | 11 of 33 | 8 | 2015 (4) | $0 |
| Lea County, NM, heat wave | Relatively Low | 77.5 | 8 of 33 | 1 | 2019 (1) | $0 |
Cost of living with electricity in Lea County, NM
Lea County, NM: electricity $1,397 a year per home (DOE LEAD), all home energy $1,950, 2.5% of $78,292 income. 24,379 households in Lea County, NM spend about $34.1 million a year on electricity and $47.5 million on all home energy. Lower-income homes in Lea County, NM ($13,648 a year) spend 11.3% of income, 4.5 times the all-home figure.
Energy burden in Lea County, NM
| Lea County, NM | Homes | Income | Power | Gas | Other | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lea County, NM, all households | 24,379 | $78,292 | $1,397 | $527 | $26 | 2.5% |
| Lea County, NM, lower income | 6,284 | $13,648 | $1,010 | $528 | $7 | 11.3% |
| Lea County, NM, owners | 16,679 | $94,318 | $1,574 | $616 | $36 | 2.4% |
| Lea County, NM, renters | 7,700 | $43,577 | $1,014 | $334 | $4 | 3.1% |
Housing and heating in Lea County, NM
Lea County, NM: 15,479 of 28,125 homes were built before 1980 and 6,332 in 2000 or later. Lea County, NM has 19,480 detached houses, 1,980 homes in 5+ unit buildings, 4,930 mobile homes, and 7,496 of 24,568 households rent.
Age of homes in Lea County, NM
% of homes by decade built, Lea County, NM
- 3pre-40
- 340s
- 1650s
- 1560s
- 1770s
- 1580s
- 790s
- 800s
- 1310s
- 120+
Heating fuel in Lea County, NM
| Lea County, NM | Value | State median | Gap | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lea County, NM, median year built | 1977 | 1980 | -3 years | 21 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, built before 1980 | 55.0% | 50.7% | +4.4 points | 11 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, built 2000 or later | 22.5% | 18.1% | +4.5 points | 8 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, detached houses | 69.3% | 64.1% | +5.2 points | 12 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, apartments in 5+ unit buildings | 7.0% | 4.1% | +3.0 points | 5 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, mobile homes | 17.5% | 23.9% | -6.4 points | 24 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, renter households | 30.5% | 27.3% | +3.3 points | 11 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, median home value | $176,000 | $160,800 | +$15,200 | 13 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, median gross rent a month | $1,119 | $810 | +$309 | 5 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, people per household | 2.89 | 2.59 | +0.30 | 5 of 33 |
Flood claims and flood insurance in Lea County, NM
Lea County, NM: 24 NFIP flood claims in 2015 to 2025, $160K paid, median paid claim $4,555.
715 of 25,998 residential structures in Lea County, NM carry an NFIP contract. 774 NFIP policies of any type were in force in Lea County, NM on 8 Sep 2026. Lea County, NM lists 5 repetitive-loss properties.
Lea County, NM: claims history, not an outage count.
Flood claims by year in Lea County, NM
flood claims a year, Lea County, NM
- <5'15
- 13'16
- 0'17
- <5'18
- <5'19
- 0'20
- <5'21
- <5'22
- <5'23
- <5'24
- 0'25
| Lea County, NM | Value | Median county | Rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lea County, NM, claims 2015-2025 | 24 | — | 7 of 16 |
| Lea County, NM, paid 2015-2025 | $160K | — | 13 of 16 |
| Lea County, NM, median paid claim | $4,555 | — | — |
| Lea County, NM, claims per 1,000 homes | 0.9 | 0.8 | 8 of 16 |
| Lea County, NM, homes with flood insurance | 2.8% | 0.6% | 4 of 31 |
| Lea County, NM, policies in force | 774 | — | — |
| Lea County, NM, repetitive-loss properties | 5 | — | — |
Lea County, NM: OpenFEMA NFIP, claims as of 8 Sep 2026, insured share as of 3 Aug 2026; counts under 5 are hidden.
Lea County, NM: flood claims by state, flood hub.
Climate and electric heating in Lea County, NM
Lea County, NM totals 3,137 heating degree days and 1,753 cooling degree days a year (1991-2020 normal).
For heating, Lea County, NM is the 29th coldest of 33 counties in New Mexico: 3,137 against a median of 4,510. For cooling, Lea County, NM is the 3rd hottest: 1,753 against a median of 844.
Lea County, NM sits between climates, 1,384 degree days separate heating and cooling.
Lea County, NM: 2,950 heating degree days in 2016-2025, 3,137 on the normal, 6% under.
Lea County, NM: 50.9% of 24,568 homes heat with electricity; 49.1% use gas, oil, wood or something else.
| Lea County, NM | Value | NM median county | Lea County, NM, rank (1 = highest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lea County, NM, heating degree days, 1991-2020 normal | 3,137 | 4,510 | 29 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, heating degree days, 2016-2025 mean | 2,950 | 4,263 | 29 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, cooling degree days, 1991-2020 normal | 1,753 | 844 | 3 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, cooling degree days, 2016-2025 mean | 1,960 | 1,005 | 4 of 33 |
| Lea County, NM, electric heating, ACS 2019-2023 | 50.9% | 14.9% | 5 of 33 |
Lea County, NM: ACS B25040, 24,568 homes; NOAA nClimDiv, retrieved 7 Oct 2026.
Facts about Lea County, NM
- Residents of Lea County, NM, ACS 2023
- 73,1547 of 33 New Mexico counties
- Households in Lea County, NM
- 24,5682.98 people each
- Owner-occupied homes in Lea County, NM
- 69.5%17,072 owner and 7,496 renter households
- Median household income in Lea County, NM
- $68,7505 of 33 New Mexico counties
- Housing units in Lea County, NM
- 28,1253,557 vacant or seasonal, 12.6% of the units
- Homes heated by electricity in Lea County, NM
- 50.9%12,503 homes, 5 of 33 New Mexico counties
- Utilities listed for Lea County, NM
- 33 with a home price: Central Valley Elec Coop, Inc, Lea County Electric Coop, Inc, Southwestern Public Service Co
- Lowest home price in Lea County, NM
- 8.91 ¢/kWhCentral Valley Elec Coop, Inc, 25.6% below the highest
- Highest home price in Lea County, NM
- 11.98 ¢/kWhSouthwestern Public Service Co
- Monthly bill gap in Lea County, NM
- $20between the two at 654 kWh, $241 a year, 0.35% of the Lea County, NM median income
- ZIP areas touching Lea County, NM
- 1188114 to 88267
- Outage-linked storm events in Lea County, NM
- 174NWS storm events, 2015 to 2025
- Homes built before 1980 in Lea County, NM
- 55.0%median year built 1977
- Flood claims in Lea County, NM
- 24NFIP 2015 to 2025, $160K paid
- Home energy burden in Lea County, NM
- 2.5%$1,397 a year on electricity (DOE LEAD)
Electricity price since 2015 in Lea County, NM
Southwestern Public Service Co charged Lea County, NM homes 9.40 ¢/kWh in 2015. Lea County, NM: 11.98 ¢ in 2024, 27% up. Lea County, NM: against 14% up for the New Mexico average.
Lea County, NM: a 654 kWh month at that price. Lea County, NM: $61 in 2015, $78 in 2024. Lea County, NM: $940 a year, 1.4% of the $68,750 median income.
Lea: 10 yearly prices
| Year | Southwestern Public Service Co, Lea County, NM | Lea: Gap to New Mexico average | Lea: Gap to U.S. average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015, Lea | 9.40 | -3.07 | -3.25 |
| 2016, Lea | 9.59 | -2.44 | -2.96 |
| 2017, Lea | 10.54 | -2.34 | -2.35 |
| 2018, Lea | 10.11 | -2.57 | -2.76 |
| 2019, Lea | 9.65 | -2.86 | -3.36 |
| 2020, Lea | 9.85 | -3.09 | -3.30 |
| 2021, Lea | 10.80 | -2.72 | -2.86 |
| 2022, Lea | 12.70 | -1.14 | -2.34 |
| 2023, Lea | 11.77 | -2.08 | -4.23 |
| 2024, Lea | 11.98 | -2.22 | -4.50 |
Lea County, NM: EIA-861 home prices, 2015 to 2024, not a Lea County, NM price.
CSVElectric utilities in Lea County, NM
| Utility listed for Lea County, NM | Type | Home price ¢/kWh | Yearly bill at 654 kWh | Share of Lea County, NM median income of $68,750 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Valley Elec Coop, Inc in Lea County, NM | Cooperative | 8.91 | $699 | 1.02% |
| Lea County Electric Coop, Inc in Lea County, NM | Cooperative | 10.07 | $790 | 1.15% |
| Southwestern Public Service Co in Lea County, NM | Investor Owned | 11.98 | $940 | 1.37% |
Prices are statewide utility averages, not a county price.
Analyst note on Lea County, NM
12,503 of the 24,568 homes in Lea County, NM heat with electricity. Lea County, NM counts 73,154 residents in 24,568 households. Household income in Lea County, NM is $68,750; 17,072 of its 24,568 households own.
Lea County, NM touches 11 ZIP areas, 88114 to 88267, about 6,650 residents each. Lea County, NM has 28,125 housing units, 3,557 (12.6%) vacant or seasonal, and 7,496 rented homes. Lea County, NM logged 174 storm events for its 73,154 residents.
The median home in Lea County, NM dates from 1977. Homes in Lea County, NM pay $1,397 a year for electricity. Lea County, NM home electricity prices run Central Valley Elec Coop, Inc to Southwestern Public Service Co, $20 a month apart at 654 kWh.
Bill and heat pump calculator, Lea County, NM
Compare Lea County, NM with its neighbours
- Eddy County sits 71 miles west of Lea County, NM, with 61,114 residents against 73,154 there, 297 storm events against 174, median home built 1977 against 1977, energy burden 2.0% against 2.5%, income $79,605 against $68,750.
- Roosevelt County sits 85 miles north of Lea County, NM, with 19,002 residents against 73,154 there, 81 storm events against 174, median home built 1980 against 1977, energy burden 3.0% against 2.5%, income $52,445 against $68,750.
- Chaves County sits 88 miles northwest of Lea County, NM, with 64,446 residents against 73,154 there, 150 storm events against 174, median home built 1972 against 1977, energy burden 2.7% against 2.5%, income $52,029 against $68,750.
- Curry County sits 125 miles north of Lea County, NM, with 47,932 residents against 73,154 there, 131 storm events against 174, median home built 1976 against 1977, energy burden 2.8% against 2.5%, income $56,259 against $68,750.
- De Baca County sits 131 miles northwest of Lea County, NM, with 1,580 residents against 73,154 there, 64 storm events against 174, median home built 1972 against 1977, energy burden 3.9% against 2.5%, income $40,804 against $68,750.
Cities in Lea County, NM
- Hobbs electricity rates39,887 residents
ZIP codes in Lea County, NM
- 88114
- 88231
- 88240
- 88242
- 88244
- 88252
- 88260
- 88262
- 88264
- 88265
- 88267
New Mexico: home prices since 2001, planned plants. 721 MW planned in this county.
Questions on Lea County, NM
Lea County, NM: what do homes pay for electricity?
Lea County, NM homes paid 8.91 to 11.98 cents per kWh in 2024 across 3 listed utilities: $58 to $78 a month at 654 kWh, 1.02% to 1.37% of Lea County, NM income.
Lea County, NM: how many homes heat with electricity?
Lea County, NM: 12,503 of 24,568 occupied homes, 50.9%, rank 5 of 33.
Lea County, NM: median household income?
$68,750 in Lea County, NM, rank 5 of 33; 73,154 residents, 24,568 households.
Lea County, NM: outage-linked storms since 2015?
Lea County, NM: 174 NWS events, peak year 2023.
Lea County, NM: flood insurance claims since 2015?
Lea County, NM: 24 NFIP flood claims, $160K paid, 0.9 per 1,000 homes, 2.8% of homes insured.
How old are the homes in Lea County, NM?
Lea County, NM: median home built 1977; 55.0% predate 1980, 69.3% detached, 7.0% in 5+ unit buildings.
Lea County, NM: share of income for energy?
Lea County, NM homes spend $1,397 a year on electricity, $1,950 on all energy: 2.5% of $78,292; 11.3% for lower incomes.