El Paso Electric taps Eliecer Viamontes as CEO ahead of Kelly Tomblin’s exit, while the city’s housing agency launches a $600 million buying campaign beyond Texas. Both moves mark a shakeup for major local players.
El Paso’s business scene is shifting fast. El Paso Electric has lined up Eliecer "Eli" Viamontes to take over as CEO, setting the stage for Kelly Tomblin’s retirement. At the same time, the city’s housing agency is spending big—$600 million—to snap up apartment complexes outside Texas.
Pressure is mounting on local institutions to adapt. El Paso Electric’s board has cycled through 22 CEOs in the past hundred years, but the latest handoff lands as utilities across the Southwest scramble to modernize and keep up with new rules. KTSM reports that Viamontes will step in as president and CEO on November 9, 2026. Tomblin will stay on as an advisor through the end of that year to help with the transition.
Before joining El Paso Electric, Eliecer Viamontes led Entergy Texas for nearly five years and brings over 20 years of experience in the energy sector.
The city’s housing agency, operating under the HOME brand, is making waves with a $600 million push into new markets. This isn’t just a tweak to its old playbook. The agency has picked up at least 13 private apartment complexes—over 4,000 units—since 2022, according to El Paso Times. The bulk of these deals happened outside Texas, signaling a clear shift in strategy.
Seven of the properties changed hands in 2025 and 2026 for just over $414 million. The agency used an affiliate, Sixteenth Floor Residential Inc., to close deals in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. That’s a sharp turn from its traditional focus on El Paso and the surrounding region.
The housing agency’s acquisitions have been financed through bond issuances, with debt repayment secured by rental income. HOME states that no city, county, or state funds were used for these purchases, and the acquired complexes are removed from property tax rolls.
Questions are already swirling about how this out-of-state buying spree will affect local housing. The agency’s leaders say the deals won’t tap city, county, or state funds, but the removal of these properties from tax rolls could hit local budgets. The long-term impact on El Paso renters and property owners remains uncertain.
El Paso Electric’s leadership shuffle isn’t happening in a vacuum. The utility’s frequent CEO changes reflect the tough job of steering a major power provider through shifting economic and regulatory headwinds. Tomblin, who took over after the company’s 2020 sale to the Infrastructure Investments Fund tied to JPMorgan Chase, will hand off to Viamontes after more than six years at the helm, as reported by Reuters.
Meanwhile, the city gears up for a contested El Paso County judge election. Candidates and issues are drawing close attention from business owners and residents. The outcome could steer decisions on infrastructure and public safety for years.
On the sports beat, Riverside’s football squad just knocked off Ysleta, with quarterback Carlos Rojas III leading the charge. The Eagles also grabbed a district-opening win at home against El Paso Del Valle, keeping local football fans on their toes.
UTEP athletics are in the spotlight as well. The Nevada Wolfpack come in as 8 1/2-point favorites for their next matchup. In soccer, a sophomore standout has finally given UTEP the scoring punch it needed.
Elsewhere, an El Paso doctor faces arrest on suspicion of groping a UMC patient, putting a spotlight on oversight in local healthcare. The Texas Lottery posted its winning numbers for October 9, 2026, giving hopefuls a shot at a windfall.
