CITIZEN NEWS
EDITORS NOTE: The following update was received from Dave Clark with Friends of the San Saba River (FOSS) June 29.
On Friday, June 26, the Senate’s Business & Commerce Committee announced it will hold a public hearing about the status of the Texas electric grid and the impacts of 765-kV transmission lines on Private Property Rights at the Capitol beginning at 9 a.m. July 29.
On March 27, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued his “interim charges” to the Senate’s committees. Interim charges are formal directives issued by legislative leadership that instruct committees to study specific policy issues, evaluate state agencies, and review how recently passed laws are working in practice.
“Interim” refers to the time between regular legislative sessions every two years. Legislative committees in both the Senate and House are holding public hearings now on their interim charges. The committees will then publish interim reports late this year, which will help determine new legislative bills for the next regular session starting in January 2027.
Following is Lt. Gov. Patrick’s interim charge to the Senate Business & Commerce Committee for the Texas Electric Grid and 765kV Transmission Lines:
Assessing the State of the Texas Electric Grid
- Monitor rulemaking related to Senate Bill 6, 89th Legislature, including large load interconnection rules, cost allocation of transmission costs, and the progress made toward increasing confidence in Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) load forecasts.
- Examine previous efforts to strengthen the reliability and resiliency of the Texas electric grid, including the Texas Energy Fund and post-Winter Storm Uri reforms at both the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT, including Senate Bills 2 and 3, 87th Legislature.
- Evaluate the competitiveness of the ERCOT market to determine whether further changes are necessary to support a robust energy-only market.
Managing the Impacts Transmission Lines on Private Property
- 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.
Bell County East Closing Briefs
Reply Briefs were submitted on Friday, June 26, and Initial Briefs were submitted on June 19. Intervenors, the applicants and the PUC Legal Staff filed over 130 Initial Briefs and 70 Reply Briefs.
The State Office of Administrative Hearings Administrative Law Judges will review and consider the admitted evidence, testimony, and Closing Briefs in the Bell County East case to reach their decision.
The judges will issue their Proposal for Decision (PFD) to the PUC around Aug. 18, and the PUC 180-Day Decision Deadline for Bell County East is Sept. 22.
The Intervenor Briefs primarily focus on the Route for Bell County East. Intervenors raised concerns about routes or route links that impacted their property and argued why a different route should be selected for Bell County East.
A few Intervenors also argued that the applicants did not prove the “need” for Bell County East. The applicants included 30 pages in their Initial Brief and Reply Brief arguing that Bell County East was necessary to comply with the PUC and ERCOT’s Permian Basin Reliability Plan and H. B. 5066.
Intervenors and their attorneys and experts have completed their work on the Bell County East contested case until the SOAH ALJs issue their Proposal for Decision around Aug. 18.
Fortunately, The Senate announced their Interim Hearing for the Electric Grid and 765kV Transmission Lines on the same day that the Reply Briefs were submitted.
Now the attention will shift to the legislature while the SOAH ALJs consider the evidence in the Bell County East contested case.
Attend the Interim Hearing
This Interim Hearing will include public testimony, which is limited to 2 minutes per witness. Witnesses can also submit written testimony to the committee.
Please consider attending the July 29 Hearing in person in Austin.
A large turnout of concerned landowners will have a tremendous impact on the eleven Senators on the Business and Commerce Committee.
You can also watch the Hearing online and it will be recorded. Please go to the Senate Business & Commerce Committee’s web page at:
https://senate.texas.gov/cmte.php?c=510 for a link to the July 29th Hearing video.
–Dave Clark
