The Billion-Dollar Build for the Massive 765-kV Texas Power Line Announced
Oncor Electric Delivery and LCRA Transmission Services announced a proposal to build a 765-kV transmission line stretching from Schleicher County to Bell County, Texas. The project, part of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan, aims to meet the region’s growing electricity needs.
The line would span 214 to 244 miles, with estimated costs between $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion, excluding nearly $400 million for upgrades at the Bell County East Switch. Oncor and LCRA would each hold a 50% ownership interest in the project.
According to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), electricity demand in the Permian Basin is projected to increase from 11,132 MW in 2026 to 23,659 MW by 2030 and 26,400 MW by 2038. The proposed transmission line would improve bi-directional power flow, enhance grid reliability, and support new industrial and data center loads in the region.
Ellen Buck, Oncor’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, emphasized that the project would help provide “safe and reliable electricity throughout Texas at a time of unprecedented growth.”
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) is expected to select a final route in September 2026, with completion and energization anticipated by 2030. This initiative is part of a broader state effort to expand high-voltage transmission and strengthen Texas’s electric grid.
Source: utilitydive.com
