Application Filed With PUC on March 26th
On Thursday, March 26th, Oncor & LCRA TSC filed their application with the PUC for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) for the Bell County East to Big Hill 765kV transmission line project.
Oncor/LCRA TSC made significant additions and revisions to their proposed routes from the original proposed route map. Oncor/LCRA TSC identified 171 alternative routes for their proposed 765kV transmission line out of 1,246 possible routes. Oncor/LCRA TSC selected Route 894 as the route they believe best meets the requirements of Texas state law set forth in PURA § 37.056(c)(4)(A)-(D) and 16 TAC § 25.101 (referred to as Preferred Route 894). Oncor & LCRA's preferred route carries no special weight in the PUC review and approval of the final route. Any route consisting of identified route links may be approved by the PUC.
Preferred Route 894 consists of the following route segments, which run east to west from the Bell County East Switch near Temple to the Big Hill Substation in Schleicher County. The route links in BOLD text are the route links in San Saba and McCulloch Counties. Route 894 does not cross Mason County or southern Menard County (i.e. it crosses north of Menard city):
Route 894 Segments: A0-A1-A2-B1-B21-C4-D12-C5-E52-F1-F31-F32-F20-F23-G72-G73-G82-G13-G51-G52-H1-H41-H42-J21-J22-J23-J27-J4-K11-K7-J16-K13-K51-K52-M11-M12-N3-P2-R1-T1-T2-Z2
Please click on the following link to see the final route map proposed by Oncor & LCRA TSC. Preferred Route 894 is highlighted on this map. The map is four pages and runs east to west from Bell County East to Big Hill. San Saba County is shown on pages 2 & 3. McCulloch, Mason and eastern Menard Counties are shown on page 3.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q6i2urEtilrCYYZBT87JUxivtJ3XWGWB/view?usp=sharing
Route 894 crosses the San Saba River one time on the K51 route segment in west San Saba County. Route 894 does not cross Brady Creek.
The CCN Application is 2873 pages, plus written direct testimony from five Oncor representatives. The entire application is available on the PUC Interchange website at docket 59475, Items 65, 66 and 67, but it is difficult to navigate.
Contested Case Process
The PUC will refer the Oncor/LCRA TSC CCN application to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), who will assign an administrative law judge (ALJ) to preside over the contested case. The contested case hearing will proceed like a trial, including discovery, testimony and cross-examination. At the end of the contested case hearing, the ALJ will submit a written recommendation for the 765kV transmssion line route to the PUC for their final decision.
If any route segment crosses a landowner's property or comes within 500 feet of their property, then the landowner is an "Affected Landowner" and they can file as an Intervenor in the Contested Case. Oncor/LCRA TSC is required to mail notifications to all Affected Landowners by first class mail. The notifications include roughly 70 pages of enclosures, so it will likely take 7 to 10 days before Affected Landowners receive their notification.
Affected Landowners must file to intervene within 30 days of the date that Oncor/LCRA files their application. If the Affected Landowner misses this 30 day deadline, then they will not be able to intervene in the contested case.
Intervenors are allowed to present evidence in the contested case and they can cross-examine witnesses. However, intervenors must respond to requests from the Administrative Law Judge, Oncor, LCRA TSC and other parties, and intervenors must actively participate in the case. Intervenors are encouraged to retain an attorney to represent them in the contested case. If an Affected Landowner does not file as an Intervenor, then they will not be allowed to participate in the contested case where the final routing decision will be made.
Contested Case Schedule
CCN applications have been filed with the PUC for all proposed Permian Basin east/west 765kV transmission line projects. I reviewed the contested case schedules for the other 765kV CCN applications and noted the schedule for discovery, testimony and the hearing is very quick and challenging, as follows:
State of Texas Statute requires a Final Decision within 180 days of the CCN application filing.
Affected landowners have 30 days to file as intervenors after the date the CCN application is filed.
The hearing on the merits (i.e. the trial) is typically scheduled 2 1/2 months after the CCN application is filed. If an Affected Landowner waits until Day 30 to file as an intervenor, then the landowner will only have 1 1/2 months until the hearing takes place.
The Deadlines for the Intervenor's Discovery and Direct Testimony is a few days to a couple of weeks after the 30-day intervention deadline, which is very challenging.
After the hearing on the merits, 10 to 14 days is then allowed for initial briefs and reply briefs (i.e. similar to closing arguments).
The SOAH takes about 2 months to submit their recommendation, called a Proposal for Decision (PFD), to the PUC.
The PUC takes 35 days before the 180-day deadline to review and consider the PFD from the SOAH and to reach their final decision on the route.
This complex and challenging schedule and contested case process are primary reasons why Intervenors are encouraged to retain an attorney to represent them in the official proceeding.
Senate Interim Charge on 765kV Transmission Lines
On Friday, March 27th, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick issued the Senate's Interim Charges, which includes the following charge on 765kV transmission lines for the Business and Commerce Committee:
"Managing the Impacts of 765-kv Transmission Lines on Private Property Rights: Review the proposed 765-kv transmission line route plans to determine their impact on homes, businesses, and communities. Assess whether the current regulatory processes and timelines are sufficient in protecting landowner rights, including allowing for proper consideration of the effect of high voltage transmission lines on long-term land use, property values, and environmental factors. Recommend ways to improve transmission planning, permitting, and siting decisions for the infrastructure necessary to serve growth in the state."
Three other related interim charges were also issued to the Business and Commerce Committee including:
Assessing the state of the Texas Electric Grid,
Modernizing Transmission and Enhancing Affordability, and
Managng Data Center Growth
Please click on the following link to see the complete list of Senate Interim Charges issued by Lieutenant Governor Patrick and see the Business and Commerce Committee interim charges on page 2.
https://www.ltgov.texas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-Interim-Charges.pdf
Friends of the San Saba (FOSS) will present our concerns and recommendations about the PUC regulatory process and routing methodology to the Senate Business and Commerce Committee.
House Speaker Burrows also issued 50 pages of interim charges for the House Committees last week, but he did not include a charge for 765kV transmission lines or the PUC regulatory process.