West Texas
Places in West Texas
West Texas electricity and water
El Paso Electric serves about 465,000 customers across a 10,000-square-mile area from Hatch, New Mexico, to Van Horn, Texas. In the ZIPs checked on PowerToChoose, Oncor delivers in Midland 79701 and Odessa 79761, and AEP Texas North in Abilene 79601 and San Angelo 76901. The Colorado River Municipal Water District treats and delivers drinking water wholesale to Odessa and other Permian Basin communities.
El Paso Water allows landscape watering up to three days a week, with no residential watering on Mondays, and watering on the wrong day or not fixing a leak within five working days can bring a fine of $50 to $500. As of October 13, 2026, Abilene was on a 2-day-a-week schedule, with its two main lakes at 41.0% combined capacity. As of October 22, 2026, San Angelo was in standard conservation, with no outdoor watering between noon and 6 p.m. from April through October. For leak repairs, see the plumbing guide.
Contractor and permit checks in West Texas
El Paso residential general contractors, covering roofing, remodels, fences and pools among other work, must register with at least $100,000 of liability insurance and a $50,000 blanket construction bond. Abilene registers contractors at no fee and has bond forms for building, roofing, demolition, house moving, pool and sign work. San Angelo requires anyone doing permitted work to register with the building official, and it won't release electric service to AEP until a city electrical permit passes inspection.
In Midland, a building permit can be applied for by the owner or a licensed and bonded contractor, and it expires if work doesn't start within 180 days. The roofing guide and electrician guide explain the state side of each check.
West Texas appraisal districts and tax offices
Each county has its own district: El Paso Central at 5801 Trowbridge Drive, Midland Central at 4631 Andrews Highway, Ector County at 1301 East 8th Street in Odessa, Taylor Central at 1534 South Treadaway in Abilene, and the Tom Green County Appraisal District, whose 2026 protest deadline for real property was May 15, 2026.
In El Paso, Ector and Taylor counties the Tax Assessor-Collector does not collect property taxes, and the appraisal district may collect some or all of them. In Midland County the Tax Assessor-Collector collects for several taxing units. Part of Odessa lies in Midland County, so check which appraisal district values your address.
West Texas places by county
West Texas local business FAQs
Can I choose an electricity provider in El Paso?+
No. El Paso Electric is outside ERCOT with PUCT-set rates, and PowerToChoose lists no retail plans for ZIP 79901.
Who collects property taxes in Ector County?+
The Ector County Tax Assessor-Collector does not collect property taxes; the appraisal district may collect some or all of them. Check your bill for the collecting office.
Sources
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: Rate Case Process
- PowerToChoose (PUCT): plan listings by ZIP code (public plans API)
- El Paso Electric: About EPE
- PowerToChoose (PUCT): plan listings by ZIP code (public plans API)
- PowerToChoose (PUCT): plan listings by ZIP code (public plans API)
- PowerToChoose (PUCT): plan listings by ZIP code (public plans API)
- City of San Angelo: Emergency & Utility Contacts; PowerToChoose plans API (ZIP 76901)
- City of Odessa: Utilities
- El Paso Water: Watering Schedule
- City of Abilene: Save Abilene Water
- City of San Angelo: Drought Levels
- City of El Paso: Contractor Registration Requirements (PDF, Rev. 07/2024)
- City of Abilene: Contractor Information
- City of San Angelo: Registered Contractors
- City of San Angelo: Building Permits & Inspections
- City of Midland: PermitMidland
- Texas Comptroller: County Directory, El Paso County
- Texas Comptroller: County Directory, Midland County
- Texas Comptroller: County Directory, Ector County
- Texas Comptroller: County Directory, Taylor County
- Tom Green County Appraisal District: home page
- U.S. Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 subcounty population estimates, Texas (sub-est2025_48.csv)
Guide checked October 22, 2026.