EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY Debt Securities First Mortgage Bonds Preferred–Common–Stock Warrants Purchase Contracts Units FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.1

EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY

Debt Securities
First Mortgage Bonds
Preferred–Common–Stock
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units

FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

1. Introductory. El Paso Electric Company, a Texas corporation (“Company”), proposes to issue and sell from time to certain of its unsecured debt securities, first mortgage bonds, preferred stock, no par value, common stock, no par value (“Common Stock”), warrants, purchase contracts, and units registered under the Registration Statement referred to in Section 2(a) (“Registered Securities”). The Registered Securities constituting unsecured debt securities will be issued under an indenture to be entered into by the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Trustee in the form attached to the Registration Statement (the “Indenture”), in one or more series, which series may vary as to interest rates, maturities, redemption provisions, selling prices and other terms pursuant to the Indenture. The Registered Securities constituting first mortgage bonds will be issued under the General Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of February 1, 1996, as amended and supplemented, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association as successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee (the “Mortgage”), in one or more series, which series may vary as to interest rates, maturities, redemption provisions, selling prices and other terms pursuant to the Mortgage. The Registered Securities constituting preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, which series may vary as to dividend rates, redemption provisions, selling prices and other terms, and which series will be issued under a statement of resolution establishing such series, subject to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation. The Registered Securities constituting warrants, purchase contracts or units will have such terms as are set forth in the Prospectus referred to in Section 2(a) and will be issued under such agreements and documents as will be set forth in a Terms Agreement referred to in Section 3. Particular series or offerings of Registered Securities will be sold pursuant to a Terms Agreement referred to in Section 3, for resale in accordance with the terms of offering determined at the time of sale.

The Registered Securities involved in any such offering are hereinafter referred to as the “Offered Securities”. The firm or firms which agree to purchase the Offered Securities are hereinafter referred to as the “Underwriters” of such securities, and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters, if any, specified in a Terms Agreement referred to in Section 3 are hereinafter referred to as the “Representatives”; provided, however, that if the Terms Agreement does not specify any representative of the Underwriters, the term “Representatives”, as used in this Agreement (other than in Sections 2(b), 6(c) and 7 and the second sentence of Section 3), shall mean the Underwriters.

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company, as of the date of each Terms Agreement referred to in Section 3, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:

     (a) A registration statement (No. 333-_______), including a prospectus, relating to the Registered Securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and has become effective. Such registration statement, as amended at the time of any Terms Agreement referred to in Section 3, including all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference at such time, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”, and the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (the “Basic Prospectus”), as supplemented as contemplated by Section 3 to reflect the terms of the Offered Securities and the terms of the offering of the Offered Securities, as first filed with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) (“Rule 424(b)”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”), including all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at the time of any Terms Agreement, is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus”. The terms “supplement,” “amendment” and “amend” as used herein shall include all documents deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus that are filed subsequent to the date of the Basic Prospectus by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

     (b) The Registration Statement on the Effective Date conformed, and on the date of each Terms Agreement will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (“Trust Indenture Act”) and the rules and regulations of the Commission (“Rules and Regulations”) and did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Any Preliminary Prospectus, when delivered to the Underwriters for their use in marketing the Offered Securities, and the Prospectus, on the date of each Terms Agreement, and on the Closing Date referred to in Section 3, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations, and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the foregoing does not apply to statements in or omissions from any of such documents based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives, if any, specifically for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, “Effective Date” shall mean the date or time that the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto was declared effective by the Commission under the Act and “Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any supplement to the Basic Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the date thereof, used in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities (other than making confirmations of sales of the Offered Securities) and filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), and all material incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

     (c) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas, with power and authority (corporate

and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Company (“Material Adverse Effect”). The Company has no subsidiaries that (i) have assets of more than $1,000,000 and (ii) have conducted any new business activity during the prior six months.

     (d) If the Offered Securities are debt securities/first mortgage bonds: The Indenture/Mortgage has been duly authorized and has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; the Offered Securities have been duly authorized; and when the Offered Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date (as defined below in Section 3) or pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts (as hereinafter defined), the Indenture/Mortgage will have been duly executed and delivered, such Offered Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus and the Indenture/Mortgage and such Offered Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles and, in the case of first mortgage bonds, will be entitled to the security afforded by the Mortgage.

     (e) If the Offered Securities are preferred stock: The Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when the Offered Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date or pursuant to the Delayed Delivery Contracts, such Offered Securities will have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the shareholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities.

     (f) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock: The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized; all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are, and, when the Offered Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date, such Offered Securities will have been, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the shareholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Common Stock.

     (g) If the Offered Securities are warrants, purchase contracts or units: The Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when they Offered Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date or pursuant to the Delayed Delivery Contracts, such Offered Securities will have been validly issue, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

(h) If the Offered Securities are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable securities, including warrants and purchase contracts:

     (i) when the Offered Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date, such Offered Securities will be convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for debt or equity securities of the Company in accordance with their terms (if the Offered Securities are preferred stock, warrants or purchase contracts) or the Indenture/Mortgage (if the Offered Securities are debt securities/first mortgage bonds);

     (ii) if the Offered Securities are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of such Offered Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon such conversion and, when issued upon such conversion, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the shareholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Common Stock; and

     (iii) if the Offered Securities are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for debt securities/first mortgage bonds, the Indenture/Mortgage has been duly authorized and has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; the debt securities/first mortgage bonds underlying the Offered Securities have been duly authorized; and when the debt securities/first mortgage bonds underlying the Offered Securities are delivered upon conversion, exchange or exercise of the Offered Securities, the Indenture/Mortgage will have been duly executed and delivered, such debt securities/first mortgage bonds will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered, will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus and the Indenture/Mortgage and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles and, in the case of first mortgage bonds, will be entitled to the security afforded by the Mortgage.

(i) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock or are convertible into Common Stock: Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment.

(j) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock or are convertible into Common Stock: There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting, by reason of the execution of this Agreement, such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with

respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act.

     (k) If the Offered Securities constitute Common Stock or are convertible into Common Stock: The outstanding shares of Common Stock are listed on The New York Stock Exchange (the “Stock Exchange”) and the Offered Securities (if they are Common Stock) or the Common Stock into which the Offered Securities are convertible (if they are convertible) has been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. If the Offered Securities are debt securities/first mortgage bonds or preferred stock, they have been approved for listing on a stock exchange as indicated in the Terms Agreement, subject to notice of issuance.

     (l) Each of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) and the New Mexico Public regulation Commission (“NMPRC”) has issued its final order authorizing the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company; such orders are in full force and effect, are not subject to rehearing or appeal and are sufficient to authorize the transactions contemplated by the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement); and no other consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by the Company, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and, if the Offered Securities are debt securities/first mortgage bonds, the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under state securities laws.

     (m) The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture/Mortgage (if the Offered Securities are debt securities/first mortgage bonds), the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) and any Delayed Delivery Contracts and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities and, if the Offered Securities are other than Common Stock, compliance with the terms and provisions thereof, will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, (B) any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company is subject, or (C) the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Company, except insofar as any such breach or violation or default pursuant to any agreements or instrument described under clause (B) above would not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, and the Company has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities as contemplated by the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement).

     (n) If the Offered Securities are first mortgage bonds: The mortgage lien created by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Mortgage on the Closing Date will create a valid security interest in the Mortgaged Property (as defined therein) securing

payment of the first mortgage bonds and the payment and performance of all of the Company’s other obligations under the Mortgage. On the Closing Date, (i) except as permitted by the Mortgage, such security interest will constitute a first, prior and exclusive lien with respect to the Mortgaged Property and (ii) no filings, registrations, recordings, deliveries or other actions on the part of the Company will be required in order to perfect the security interest in such Mortgaged Property created under the Mortgage, other than (A) filings, recordings, deliveries or other actions which, on or before the Closing Date, will have been made by or on behalf of the Company and (B) recordation of the Mortgage in the jurisdictions in which the Mortgaged Property subject thereto is located.

     (o) The Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) and any Delayed Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

     (p) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company has good and marketable title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by it, in each case free from liens, encumbrances and defects except liens for taxes not yet due and payable that would not materially affect the value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by it; and except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company holds any leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by it.

     (q) The Company possesses adequate certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by it and has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (r) There is (i) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against the Company or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against it before the National Labor Relations Board or any state or local labor relations board, and no significant grievance or more significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against the Company, or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against it and (ii) no significant strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending against the Company or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against it except for such actions specified in clause (i) or (ii) above, which, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (s) Except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, the Company has not violated any safety or similar law applicable to its business, nor any federal, state or local law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees nor any applicable federal or state wages and hours laws, nor any provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or the rules and

regulations promulgated thereunder, which in each case would result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, the Company is in compliance with all applicable existing federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to protection of human health or the environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous Material (“Environmental Laws”), except for such instances of noncompliance which, either singly or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The term “Hazardous Material” means (i) any “hazardous substance” as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (ii) any “hazardous waste” as defined by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (iii) any petroleum or petroleum product, (iv) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (v) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under or within the meaning of any other Environmental Law.

     (t) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (u) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company or any of its respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Indenture/Mortgage (if the Offered Securities are debt securities/first mortgage bonds), the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) or any Delayed Delivery Contracts, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated.

     (v) KPMG LLP (the “Accountants”), who have audited certain financial statements of the Company, are independent registered public accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations. The financial statements included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company as of the dates shown and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis; any schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein.

     (w) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change,

in the financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and, except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Prospectus, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

     (x) The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and files reports with the Commission on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (XXXXX) system.

     (y) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

     (z) The Company is not (i) in violation of its Articles of Incorporation or bylaws, (ii) to the best knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, other than as described in the Prospectus, in violation of any law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation, the violation of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or of any decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, or (iii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, which default would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

     (aa) The Company is not a “holding company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

     (bb) The Company maintains (x) systems of internal controls and processes sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (y) disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-14(c) under the Exchange Act).

3. Purchase and Offering of Offered Securities. The obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Offered Securities will be evidenced by an agreement or exchange of other written communications (“Terms Agreement”) at the time the Company determines to sell the Offered Securities. The Terms Agreement will incorporate by reference the provisions of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided therein, and will specify the firm or firms which will be Underwriters, the names of any Representatives, the principal amount or number of Offered Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter, the purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters and (if the Offered Securities are other than Common Stock) the terms of the

Offered Securities not already specified (in the Indenture/Mortgage, in the case of Offered Securities that are debt securities/first mortgage bonds), including, but not limited to, interest rate (if debt securities/first mortgage bonds), dividend rate (if preferred stock), maturity (if debt securities/first mortgage bonds), any redemption provisions and any sinking fund requirements and whether any of the Offered Securities may be sold to institutional investors pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts. The Terms Agreement will also specify the time and date of delivery and payment (such time and date, or such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Underwriter first named in the Terms Agreement (the “Lead Underwriter”) and the Company agree as the time for payment and delivery, being herein and in the Terms Agreement referred to as the “Closing Date”), the place of delivery and payment and any details of the terms of offering that should be reflected in the Prospectus. For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, the Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering, other than Contract Securities for which payment of funds and delivery of securities shall be as hereinafter provided. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Offered Securities will be several and not joint. It is understood that the Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale as set forth in the Prospectus.

If the Terms Agreement provides for sales of Offered Securities pursuant to delayed delivery contracts, the Company authorizes the Underwriters to solicit offers to purchase Offered Securities pursuant to delayed delivery contracts substantially in the form of Annex I attached hereto (“Delayed Delivery Contracts”) with such changes therein as the Company may authorize or approve. Delayed Delivery Contracts are to be with institutional investors, including commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. On the Closing Date the Company will pay, as compensation, to the Representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters, the fee set forth in such Terms Agreement in respect of the principal amount or number of Offered Securities to be sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts (“Contract Securities”). The Underwriters will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or the performance of Delayed Delivery Contracts. If the Company executes and delivers Delayed Delivery Contracts, the Contract Securities will be deducted from the Offered Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters and the aggregate principal amount or number of Offered Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter will be reduced pro rata in proportion to the principal amount or number of Offered Securities set forth opposite each Underwriter’s name in such Terms Agreement, except to the extent that the Lead Underwriter determines that such reduction shall be otherwise than pro rata and so advise the Company. The Company will advise the Lead Underwriter not later than the business day prior to the Closing Date of the principal amount or number of Contract Securities.

If the Offered Securities are preferred stock or Common Stock, the certificates for the Offered Securities delivered to the Underwriters on the Closing Date will be in definitive form, and otherwise, the Offered Securities delivered to the Underwriters on the Closing Date will be in definitive fully registered form, in each case in such denominations and registered in such names as the Lead Underwriter requests.

If the Terms Agreement for the Offered Securities specifies “Book-Entry Only” settlement or otherwise states that the provisions of this paragraph shall apply, the Company will deliver against payment of the purchase price the Offered Securities in the form of one or more permanent global securities in definitive form (the “Global Securities”) deposited with the applicable Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. Interests in any permanent global securities will be held only in book-entry form through DTC, except in the limited circumstances described in the Prospectus. Payment for the Offered Securities shall be made by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by official check or checks or wire transfer to an account previously designated by the Company at a bank acceptable to the Lead Underwriter, in each case drawn to the order of the Company at the place of payment specified in the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date, against delivery to the applicable Trustee as custodian for DTC of the Global Securities representing all of the Offered Securities.

4. Certain Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that it will furnish to counsel for the Underwriters, one signed copy of the Registration Statement relating to the Registered Securities, including all exhibits, in the form it became effective and of all amendments thereto and that, in connection with each offering of Offered Securities:

     (a) The Company will file the Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b)(2) (or, if applicable and if consented to by the Lead Underwriter, subparagraph (5)) not later than the second business day following the execution and delivery of the Terms Agreement.

     (b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish the Lead Underwriter a copy of such proposed amendment or supplement, and will incorporate any reasonable comments that the Lead Underwriter may have. The Company will advise the Lead Underwriter of any institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof.

     (c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company promptly will notify the Lead Underwriter of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, at its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance.

     (d) As soon as practicable the Company will make generally available to its securityholders an earning statement covering a period of 12 months beginning after the date hereof which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

     (e) The Company will furnish to the Representatives, without cost, copies of the Registration Statement, including all exhibits, any related Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Lead Underwriter reasonably requests.

     (f) The Company will endeavor to qualify the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Lead Underwriter reasonably requests and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution.

     (g) The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), for any filing fees or other expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with qualification of the Registered Securities for sale, for any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities (if they are debt securities/first mortgage bonds or preferred stock), for any applicable filing fee incident to, the review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the Registered Securities, for any travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of Registered Securities and for expenses incurred in distributing the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectuses or any other amendments or supplements to the Prospectus to the Underwriters.

     (h) If the Offered Securities are debt securities/first mortgage bonds or preferred stock, the Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to United States dollar-denominated debt securities/first mortgage bonds issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue (if the Offered Securities are debt securities/first mortgage bonds) or any series of preferred stock issued (if the Offered Securities are preferred stock), without the prior written consent of the Lead Underwriter for a period beginning at the time of execution of the Terms Agreement and ending the number of days after the Closing Date specified under “Blackout” in the Terms Agreement.

     (i) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock or are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Common Stock, the Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any additional shares of its Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its Common Stock, without the prior written consent of the Lead Underwriter for a period beginning at the time of execution of the Terms Agreement and ending the number of days after the Closing Date specified under “Blackout” in the Terms Agreement, except grants of employee stock options pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date of the Terms Agreement, issuances of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of such options or the exercise of any other employee stock options outstanding on the date of the Terms Agreement.

5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. If the Registered Securities are bearer obligations or bearer debt warrants, then each of the several Underwriters represents and agrees with the Company that:

     (a) except to the extent permitted under U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.163 -5(c)(2)(i)(D) (the “D Rules”), (i) it has not offered or sold, and during the restricted period will not offer or sell, debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants in bearer form (including any debt security/first mortgage bond or debt warrant in global form that is exchangeable for debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants in bearer form) to a person who is within the United States or its possessions or to a United States person and (ii) it has not delivered and will not deliver within the United States or its possessions definitive debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants in bearer form that are sold during the restricted period;

     (b) it has, and throughout the restricted period will have, in effect procedures reasonably designed to ensure that its employees or agents who are directly engaged in selling debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants in bearer form are aware that such debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants may not be offered or sold during the restricted period to a person who is within the United States or its possessions or to a United States person, except as permitted by the D Rules;

     (c) if it is a United States person, it is acquiring the debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants in bearer form for purposes of resale in connection with their original issuance and if it retains debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants in bearer form for its own account, it will only do so in accordance with the requirements of U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.163 -5(c)(2)(i)(D)(6);

     (d) if it transfers to any affiliate debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants in bearer form for the purpose of offering or selling such debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants during the restricted period, it will either (i) obtain from such affiliate for the benefit of the Company the representations and agreements contained in clauses (a), (b) and (c) or (ii) repeat and confirm the representations and agreements contained in clauses (a), (b) and (c) on such affiliate’s behalf and obtain from such affiliate the authority to so obligate it;

     (e) it will obtain for the benefit of the Company the representations and agreements contained in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) from any person other than its affiliate with whom it enters into a written contract, as defined in U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.163 -5(c)(2)(i)(D)(4) for the offer or sale during the restricted period of debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants in bearer form; and

     (f) it will comply with or observe any other restrictions or limitations set forth in the Prospectus on persons to whom, or the jurisdictions in which, or the manner in which, the debt securities/first mortgage bonds or debt warrants may be offered, sold, resold or delivered.

All other terms used in the preceding paragraph have the meaning given to them by the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) and regulations thereunder, including the D Rules. The restricted period is defined at U.S. Treas. Reg. Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7).

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered Securities will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

     (a) On or prior to the date of the Terms Agreement, the Representatives shall have received a letter, dated the date of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters of the Accountants containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to the underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

     (b) (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; and (ii) there shall have been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operation of the Company from that set forth in the Prospectus; and the Underwriters shall have received, on the Closing Date, a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an officer of the Company, to the foregoing effect. The officer making such certificate may rely upon the best of his knowledge as to proceedings pending or threatened.

     (c) Subsequent to the execution of the Terms Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operation of the Company which, in the judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters including any Representatives, makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would, in the judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters including any Representatives, be likely to prejudice materially the success of the proposed issue, sale or disposition of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any material suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) or

any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or New York authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities or clearance services in the United States or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters including any Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities.

     (d) The Representatives shall have received an opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, of counsel for the Company, including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and federal regulatory counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to them, which shall address, among other things, federal and state regulatory matters, and, if the Offered Securities are first mortgage bonds, the liens created by the Mortgage.

     (e) The Representatives shall have received from counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, which are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to them.

     It is understood that the Company’s special outside counsel and the Underwriters’ counsel may base their opinions as to all matters relating to the laws of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and federal regulatory matters upon the opinion of the Company’s relevant local counsel. It is further understood that the opinion of special outside counsel of the Company shall be limited to the federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of New York. Counsel may state that with respect to certain opinions their belief or opinion, as the case may be, is based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but is without independent check or verification except as specified.

     (f) The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are contemplated by the Commission.

     (g) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated the Closing Date, of the Company’s independent public accountants which meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to in such subsection will be a date not more than three days prior to the Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection.

The Company will furnish the Representatives with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives reasonably request. The Lead Underwriter may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and the Terms Agreement.

In case any of the conditions specified above in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled, the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) may be terminated by the Representatives at any time upon mailing or otherwise delivering written notice thereof to the Company. Any such termination shall be without liability of either party to the other party except as otherwise provided in Section 4(g) and Section 9 and except for any liability under Section 7.

7. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, members, directors, officers and affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related Preliminary Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives, if any, specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in the Terms Agreement and provided further that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any Preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Offered Securities, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Offered Securities to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities.

(b) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, to the same extent as the indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter set forth in Section 6(a), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related Preliminary Prospectus or preliminary prospectus supplement, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives, if any, specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in the Terms Agreement.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof but the failure to so notify such indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability except to the extent that it has been prejudiced in any material respect by such failure or from any liability that it may have to any such indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of such indemnified party, be counsel to such indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel at the indemnifying party’s expense and to control its defense of such action if (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party agree to the retention of that counsel, (ii) the indemnifying party’s failure to assume the defense of such action in a timely manner is reasonably likely to prejudice the indemnified party in a material respect or (iii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them, including legal defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or in addition to those

available to the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Offered Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same

terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the Company, to each officer of the Company who has signed the Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

8. Default of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities under the Terms Agreement and the number of shares (if preferred stock or Common Stock) or aggregate principal amount (if debt securities/first mortgage bonds or other Offered Securities) of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares (if preferred stock or Common Stock) or total aggregate principal amount (if debt securities/first mortgage bonds or other Offered Securities) of Offered Securities, the Lead Underwriter may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by the Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments under the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate principal amount (if debt securities/first mortgage bonds) or number of shares (if preferred stock or Common Stock) of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount (if debt securities/first mortgage bonds) or number of shares (if preferred stock or Common Stock) of Offered Securities and arrangements satisfactory to the Lead Underwriter and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, the Terms Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 9. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. The respective commitments of the several Underwriters for the purposes of this Section shall be determined without regard to reduction in the respective Underwriters’ obligations to purchase the principal amounts (if debt securities/first mortgage bonds) or numbers of shares of the Offered Securities set forth opposite their names in the Terms Agreement as a result of Delayed Delivery Contracts entered into by the Company.

9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than because of the termination of the Terms Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or the occurrence of any event specified in clause (iii), (iv), (vi), (vii) or (viii) of Section 6(c), the Company will reimburse the

Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.

10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to them at their address furnished to the Company in writing for the purpose of communications hereunder or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at Xxxxxxx Tower, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

11. Successors. The Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and such Underwriters as are identified in the Terms Agreement and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

12. Representation of Underwriters. Any Representatives will act for the several Underwriters in connection with the financing described in the Terms Agreement, and any action under such Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) taken by the Representatives jointly or by the Lead Underwriter will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

13. Counterparts. The Terms Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

14. Applicable Law. This Agreement and the Terms Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Document Metadata

Table of Contents

EL PASO ELECTRIC COMPANY Debt Securities First Mortgage Bonds Preferred–Common–Stock Warrants Purchase Contracts Units FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Document Metadata