Sept. 26—AUSTIN — The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) unanimously approved a transmission plan Thursday to meet the future electricity needs of the Permian Basin Region. The plan outlines the transmission infrastructure investments needed to support the continued expansion and electrification of Texas’ oil and gas industry in West Texas and the growing electricity needs of the region’s local communities.
“I want to thank Governor Abbott, the Texas Legislature, PUCT and ERCOT staff and all stakeholders who participated in this groundbreaking process that will result in a monumental and historic buildout of the state’s transmission infrastructure,” said PUCT Commissioner Lori Cobos. “The Permian Basin is the heartbeat of our state and nation’s energy dominance and economy. This plan is a roadmap that will ensure electric reliability in the region for decades to come and facilitate critical investments in transmission infrastructure that will ensure the continued success of Texas’ oil industry. and the gas industry and support local communities throughout the region and our entire state.”
House Bill 5066, passed last year by the Texas Legislature and signed by Governor Greg Abbott, required the PUCT to direct ERCOT to develop an electric reliability plan for the Permian Basin region. The legislation requires that the plan focus on expanding transmission service to areas where mineral resources have been found, increasing available capacity to meet forecast loads, and providing available infrastructure to reduce interconnection times in areas without access to transmission services.
ERCOT predicts that electricity demand in the region will grow to approximately 26 GW by 2038, equivalent to nearly one-third of the current summer demand of the entire ERCOT system.
The plan approved by the Commission includes two categories of transmission infrastructure to support the region’s current and future energy needs: new and upgraded local transmission projects to strengthen the area’s transmission service and new import routes that will bring additional power to the region to support the energy supply of the area. growing electricity needs.
Thursday’s Commission decision also outlines the next procedural steps for implementing the plan, including instructions to the transmission companies that will prepare for construction of the projects and the Commission’s oversight of the plan’s completion.
All information related to the development of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan, including specific transmission projects and estimated costs, public comments, and input from industry and local stakeholders, is available in PUCT Project No. 55718.
