It is not known precisely how many people attended the three public meetings last month regarding a proposed transmission line that could slice through portions of 14 Texas counties including Llano, Mason and San Saba. An official said this week that the attendees numbered in the hundreds.
“Oncor and LCRA TSC (Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corporation) are actively reviewing attendance data and feedback collected during the June public meetings for the Bell County East–Big Hill 765 kV Transmission Line Project,” said Andrew Clark with Oncor’s media relations department, who answered questions for the News in an email this week. “Oncor appreciates the hundreds of people who took the time to attend these events and provide input that is vital to helping us refine the routing options we will submit to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), which will ultimately select the route that is constructed.”
Llano, Mason and San Saba are three of 14 counties that could be affected by the project. Others include Schleicher, Tom Green, Menard, Concho, McCulloch, Burnet, Lampasas, Coryell, Bell, Milam and Williamson.
“Bell County East-Big Hill” would connect Oncor’s Bell County East Switch with a new substation in Schleicher County that would be constructed by the LCRA TSC. The western terminus would be located close to the existing Big Hill Substation, which is near the City of Eldorado. The plan is for Oncor to handle the eastern segment of the line, while LCRA TSC takes on the western portion.
If the PUCT approves the massive project, construction could begin in 2027 with a completion timeline of 2030.
“As electric demand in Texas continues to grow, this project will relieve congestion on the transmission system and enable efficient, two-way power flow between West Texas and North, Central, and South Texas,” Clark said.
A Long Process
The public meetings were one step in the licensing process for new transmission facilities. The next step is to prepare a final report that will then be processed by the PUCT.
“The Environmental Assessment & Routing Study and a summary of our public engagement efforts–including estimated attendance at the June public meetings and a summary of the project feedback we are continuing to receive–will be included with our application for a Certificate of Convenience & Necessity (CCN),” Clark said. “Additionally, as part of our application, we will provide landowners who are impacted by the routing options with written notice that explains how they can get involved in the PUCT proceedings and provide further feedback.”
Clark said that Oncor anticipates submitting the application by the end of the year.
“We think the PUCT will select the final route in mid-2026,” he said.
No route has been finalized, and public comments could directly influence which path the utilities ultimately submit to the PUCT for approval. At that time, “affected landowners will be notified of their opportunity to get involved with the review process before the Commission makes a decision on which route is selected and constructed,” according to Oncor, previously.
Those unable to attend the meetings can still get involved by contacting these representatives: Jeremy McConnell (Oncor) (214) 486-5216, transmissionprojects@oncor.com and Kelly Wells (LCRA TSC) (512) 578-1445, BCBH@LCRA.org.
More details, route maps and updates are available at www. lcra.org/BCBH and www.oncor.com/transmissionprojects.