By Dave Clark for
Friends of the San Saba River (FOSS)
The Public Utility Commission of Texas remanded (i.e. returned) the Bell County East to Big Hill (Bell County) and Big Hill to Sand Lake (Sand Lake) 765kV transmission line CCN applications to the administrative law judges at the State Office Administrative Hearings at an open meeting Friday, Sept. 11.
The PUC also approved the Howard-Solstice transmission line application at this meeting, after approving the Dinosaur to Longshore and Longshore to Drill Hole lines Aug. 28.
Bell County and Big Hill comprise the middle Permian Basin 765kV transmission line known as Import Path 2.
Howard-Solstice is the south Permian Basin 765kV transmission line known as Import Path 3.
Dinosaur and Drill Hole comprise the north Permian Basin 765kV transmission line known as Import Path 1.
The PUC has now approved two of the three Permian Basin 765kV transmission lines.
PUC Remands Bell County and Sand Lake
PUC Chairman Gleeson issued a memo on Wednesday, Sept. 9, that recommended the Commission remand Bell County and Sand Lake to the administrative law judges (ALJ. Chairman Gleeson said the ALJs did not address two of the issues in the PUC’s referral and preliminary order issued to SOAH on March 30, after Oncor and LCRA TSC filed their CCN application on March 26.
The preliminary order listed 21 different issues the PUC requested SOAH to resolve, including issues dealing with: (1) need for the 765kV transmission line, and (2) the best alternative route. Chairman Gleeson said the Bell County ALJs did not address Issues No. 11 and 13. Issue 11 asks if the 765kV transmission line is necessary to meet state or federal reliability standards, and Issue 13 asks for the estimated congestion cost savings that may result from the 765kV transmission line.
Congestion cost savings refer to financial savings achieved when a new or upgraded transmission line removes a grid bottleneck, allowing cheaper electricity to flow freely. Electricity congestion occurs when transmission lines lack the physical capacity to carry the volume of electricity needed.
The Bell County SOAH ALJs responded to Issues 11 and 13 in their proposal for decision (PFD), but Chairman Gleeson said these responses did not adequately address these issues. The other commissioners agreed with Chairman Gleeson’s memo and the remand was approved at the PUC’s open meeting on September 11th.
The remand will delay any oral arguments or PUC decisions on the Bell County and Sand Lake CCN applications. This delay could last one week, one month or longer. The ALJs may need to request further evidence from Oncor & LCRA TSC and then allow Intervenors to review and raise arguments about this evidence when it is provided, which would require time to complete. Bell County and Sand Lake will remain on hold until the SOAH ALJs are able to address Issues 11 and 13.
PUC Approves Howard Solstice
PUC Chairman Gleeson and Commissioner Hjaltman issued memos about Howard Solstice on Thursday afternoon, September 10, 2026. Chairman Gleeson’s memo identified some changes and additions to findings of fact, ordering paragraphs and a conclusion of law.
Commissioner Hjaltman’s memo recommended approval of Howard Solstice with one modification to recommended Route 4.
The route modification moved the eastern segment north of Uvalde instead of south so the route would parallel more existing transmission line right-of-way and avoid some of the ranches and native Hill County land.
The Commissioners spent 12 minutes discussing the approval of Howard Solstice. Most of the discussion consisted of comments agreeing with Commissioner Hjaltman’s route modification.
There was no discussion about the issues of need and no other discussion about the recommended route. There was no discussion about the oral arguments made by the Howard Solstice intervenors on Friday, Aug. 28. The Commissioners approved Howard Solstice after their 12-minute discussion.
The PUC has now approved three of the five Permian Basin 765kV CCN applications. The SOAH ALJs recommended approval of these three applications.
The PUC remanded Bell County and Sand Lake and placed these two 765kV CCN applications on hold. The Bell County SOAH ALJs recommend denial of Bell County and Sand Lake.
Bell County Replies to Exceptions
Replies to PFD Exceptions were filed by 50 Intervenors and the applicants on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Most Intervenors disagreed with Oncor’s & LCRA TSC’s exceptions to the ALJs conclusions. These Intervenors argued that applicants:
- Failed to show that Import Path 2 was needed because the projected load forecast was not substantiated by quantifiable evidence and Bell County East does not have sufficient power to transmit west.
- Violated public meeting requirements for 1400 landowners located on roughly 400 miles of new route links added when the CCN application was filed.
- Did not provide notice using current county tax rolls.
The PUC previously requested the SOAH ALJs file their exceptions letter by Tuesday, September 15, 2026, to document their arguments against the parties’ exceptions. Since the PUC remanded Bell County and Sand Lake to the ALJs, it is uncertain if the SOAH exceptions letter will be filed at this time.
