Oncor believes public input is an important and welcome component of the carefully regulated process for proposing and building new transmission lines. We review and evaluate all of the public input we receive about our 765kV projects. This feedback has helped us modify several preliminary alternative route links submitted to the PUCT for consideration.

Those interested in PUCT proceedings for transmission projects can get involved either by requesting to become intervenors or by submitting comments as protestors. Prospective intervenors are people/entities that believe they are directly impacted by a proposed project; approved intervenors are full, active participants in PUCT proceedings that can make legal arguments, conduct discovery, file testimony, and cross-examine witnesses. More information about getting involved in PUCT proceedings can be found at  www.puc.texas.gov/agency/rulesnlaws/participate/.

Building more gas generation may help over time, but it is not a complete reliability strategy by itself. New generation must be planned, financed, permitted, interconnected, fueled, and available during the hours when the grid needs it most. Even if additional generation is built in the region, the power still needs transmission infrastructure to move reliably to customers.

That is why the choice is not “generation or transmission.” The 765 kV lines solve a different problem: ensuring ERCOT can deliver large amounts of power into the Permian Basin when needed and move power across the system efficiently and securely. They provide the import capability, flexibility, and resilience needed to support the region’s growth.

The existing 345 kV system is no longer enough to keep pace with the region’s load growth. Far West Texas experiences far more transmission congestion than any other part of the ERCOT system, especially at night, when demand in the region exceeds what local generation can provide and the existing transmission system approaches its import limits. While ERCOT has approved a number of improvements to the 345 kV system over the past decade, those upgrades are not enough to meet the scale of growth now occurring in the region.

In the near future, customers in Far West Texas could face an increasing risk of temporary outages, including controlled outages ERCOT may use to maintain system reliability and avoid an uncontrolled, cascading blackout. Without adding 765 kV transmission lines, the region’s already-urgent reliability concerns will continue to worsen.

That is why ERCOT and the PUCT approved the Permian Basin Reliability Plan, which includes new 765 kV transmission lines to bring power into the region efficiently and securely. These lines strengthen not just the Permian Basin, but the broader ERCOT grid, helping prevent localized issues from spreading and improving reliability statewide.

Transmission lines, especially 765kV lines, move electricity more efficiently and reduce grid congestion, allowing power to flow where it’s needed as demand grows across Texas. These higher‑capacity lines will help keep the grid reliable for decades to come while addressing current challenges of congestion and rapid load growth.

Oncor is a regulated Transmission and Distribution Utility and under Texas’ deregulated market structure, utilities like Oncor are prohibited from generating electricity on the grid. Power plants are built and operated by competitive generators, while Oncor’s role is to safely deliver that power through its transmission and distribution network. In Texas’ deregulated market, competitive generation companies—not utilities—build and operate power plants and sell their electricity into the ERCOT wholesale market. ERCOT is also prohibited from constructing or directing the construction of generation.

Yes. When routing new transmission lines, Oncor evaluates opportunities to parallel existing transmission corridors as well as other established infrastructure, such as utility rights‑of‑way, pipelines, railroads, and routes that run parallel to highways, when those options are reasonable and consistent with engineering, safety, environmental, and land‑use requirements. Using existing linear infrastructure can help reduce new land impacts, though all potential routes must still be “reasonably forward‑progressing” between endpoints.

However, paralleling is not always feasible. For 765kV lines in particular, placing a new line directly adjacent to an existing corridor can increase the risk that a single event could affect both systems, so maintaining appropriate spacing supports overall grid reliability and resilience. Likewise, highway‑parallel routing is only feasible in locations where it does not conflict with other routing priorities such as avoiding communities, schools, or sensitive environmental features. As part of every CCN filing, Oncor provides the PUCT with multiple geographically diverse routing alternatives, some of which may include corridor‑ or highway‑parallel segments when appropriate.

No. While this technology is new to Texas, there are more than 2,400 miles of 765kV lines in use across the U.S. and Canada. Importantly, millions of Americans live, work, farm, and operate businesses around these lines today across states like Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Virginia. Their long and widespread use across rural, suburban, and industrial areas shows that 765kV infrastructure is not experimental. It is a standard part of the transmission network in many parts of the U.S. and worldwide.

In addition, the designs used for modern 765kV systems build on decades of proven engineering practices. Oncor is able to leverage existing industry design knowledge, standards, and operating experience from utilities that have safely operated 765kV systems for years.

The impacts of transmission lines on bodies of water can vary depending on factors specific to the crossing area. Oncor does attempt to cross major rivers at close to perpendicular angles to minimize any potential impacts. Based on the results of the environmental assessment, Oncor does not expect the transmission line to have any significant impact on the San Saba River, during construction or otherwise.

None of the proposed routes for the Dinosaur- Longshore project cross Dinosaur Valley State Park.  Further, Oncor’s environmental assessment for the Dinosaur-Longshore project concluded that the project is not anticipated to adversely impact Dinosaur Valley State Park and other nearby recreation areas.  

The typical height of the steel lattice tower structures being built for these projects will be 155-160 feet. The estimated maximum height of these towers will be up to just under 200 feet. Comparatively, the typical height of a 345kV transmission tower is approximately 120-125 feet, with a maximum height of approximately 190 feet, depending on terrain, local clearances and engineering designs.

Once construction is complete, most day‑to‑day uses of the land within the easement, such as grazing, crop production, and other agricultural activities, typically can continue. Greenbelts, open space, and other low‑impact land uses may also remain compatible with transmission operations.

After the PUCT selects the final route for this project, Oncor will thoroughly survey the route to determine specific engineering, environmental, and ROW needs. (Preliminary surveys of multiple routes, taken from public right of way access areas, may take place prior to PUCT approval of a final route in order to support project timelines.) After all these determinations are completed, Oncor will begin working with impacted landowners to acquire easements.