The Alliance is providing information here for your assistance and convenience to help further your journey to understand what the PUCT and ERCOT are quickly moving forward to implement across Texas open lands, wild rivers, and personal homesteads.

NOTE -> As of 04/28/2026, the time to apply for Intervenor status in the five proposed lines we are following has passed. Bell Co to Big Hill Switch was the last line to enter into the process.

1. Process Flow – this is a Flowchart provided by Oncor which describes the process, regardless of whether or not Oncor, LCRA or CPS Energy is the energy provider.

--a. THE CRITICAL TIME IS HERE! Energy delivery companies have applied to amend their respective Certificates of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) regarding the 765-kV transmission lines described in this website. These CCN's have been granted and the process is moving forward. The CCN is the energy delivery company stating their plan to take land from landowners for purpose of the new transmission lines. This is the first stage in the EMINENT DOMAIN PROCESS. These companies are also known as Transmission Service Providers (TSP"). The PUC is the Texas state agency that decides if a transmission line is needed and what route the line will follow. The PUC does not build or operate electric transmission lines. For a Glossary of Terms, HERE is a compiled list for you.

--b. The PUC has referred the TSP's application for CCN to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), who assigns an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to preside over the contested case. The contested case proceeds like a trial, including discovery, testimony and cross-examination. At the end of the case hearing, the ALJ submits a written recommendation for the 765-kV transmission line route to the PUC for their final consideration. Go to this link to download SOAH Information for Unrepresented Parties.

--c. If any route segment crosses a landowner's property or comes within 500 feet of their property, then the landowner is an "Affected Landowner" and they can file to be an Intervenor in the Contested Case.  TSPs are required to mail notifications to all Affected Landowners by first class mail.  The notifications could take 7 to 10 days before Affected Landowners receive their notification. There is no obligation by the TSPs to send certified.

Affected Landowners must file to intervene within 30 days of the date that the TSPs file their application.  If the Affected Landowner misses this 30 day deadline, then they will not be able to intervene in the contested case. See section 2. below for this first critical step.  

--d. Intervenor - All Affected Landowners should consider being Intervenors. Intervening makes you an official participant in the legal case where the transmission line and the route are debated in front of a judge and the PUC Commissioners. You may testify in the case and may also be cross-examined by the other parties in the case. Intervenors must follow the details processes of the case, respond to requests from the administrative Law Judge and other parties, and actively participate in the case. Otherwise, you may lose your status as an Intervenor.

There is no need to fear this process. You are not suing or being sued. You are preserving your right to provide testimony regarding your land and why the State should not take it or encroach.

--The time is now passed to apply to be an Intervenor on any of the lines.

--Intervenors are NOT required to have an attorney. See section 1.g. for helpful suggestions regarding representation.

--GO TO this PUC link to learn overview of the process for Intervenor.

--For additional information on the entire process, GO TO this YouTube link for a video segment from a recent Townhall at Ft. McKavett in Menard County. This is practical and helpful to help Landowners with no attorney.

--e. All the documents related to a case are public and filed on the PUC public document interchange. You can search for the case by name or by accessing the hyperlink below. At the first box labeled Utility Type, click the drop down arrow and select Electric. Then at the second box for Control Number, type the five digit Docket Number for the line you are searching for. Then go to the bottom of the page and click Search box.

See 5.d. below for Docket Numbers. The interchange is at https://interchange.puc.texas.gov/

--f. Timeline is key - CCN applications have been filed with the PUC for all proposed paths for the Permian Basin east/west 765kV transmission line projects.  Here is a brief description of the flow for discovery, testimony and the hearing is very quick and challenging, as follows:

 - State of Texas Statute requires a Final Decision within 180 days of the CCN application filing. 

 - Affected landowners have 30 days to file as intervenors after the date the CCN application is filed. This 30 days is encompassed within the 180 days of the CCN application filing noted in the sentence above.

 - The Deadlines for the Intervenor's Discovery and Direct Testimony is a few days to a couple of weeks after the 30 day intervention deadline, which is very challenging.

For the Bell County East to Big Hill, Docket #59475, the deadline for Intervenors to file direct Testimony or a statement of position is May 13th. For timeline for this last line, Bell Co East to Big Hill, go HERE and view the full schedule starting page 5.

  - The hearing on the merits (i.e. the trial) is typically scheduled 2 1/2 months after the CCN application is filed.  If an Affected Landowner waits until Day 30 to file as an intervenor, then the landowner will only have 1 1/2 months until the hearing takes place. All witnesses who filed direct testimony, including all Intervenors, must participate in the Hearing on the Merits either in person or by videoconference. All witnesses are subject to cross-examination at the hearing. Listen to a landowner/ranchers experience from our townhall HERE.

For the Bell County East to Big Hill, Docket #59475, the Hearing on Merits is held on June 8-12.

- The SOAH takes about 2 months to submit their recommendation, called a Proposal for Decision (PFD), to the PUC.

 - The PUC takes 35 days before the 180 day deadline to review and consider the PFD from the SOAH and to reach their final decision on the route.

--g. Do-It-Yourself or get some help? -

-This complex and challenging schedule and contested case process are primary reasons why Intervenors often retain an attorney to represent them in the official proceeding.

-To identify an attorney that can represent you as an Intervenor, consider talking to your neighbors that are also Affected Landowners on the same route as your property.  Some coalitions of Affected Landowners have engaged an attorney to represent the coalition.  An attorney cannot represent multiple Affected Landowners that have a conflict of interest (by being on different routes), and you need to discuss your situation and location with the attorney so they can determine if they are able to represent you. 

Also consider reviewing PUC Docket 59475 to identify landowners and neighbors you know that have filed a motion to intervene.  These motions will identify the attorney that is representing the landowner and you can contact the landowner or attorney to discuss legal representation or ask for referrals.

- Another option is to reach out to Lone Star Land Protection for services to assist in filing and intervening. This is merely a resource for your consideration and diligence and with no recommendation from the Alliance.

-In all cases, do your own diligence.

2. FIRST CRITICAL STEP WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS -

This time has now passed. Go to step 3 if you have applied to Intervene.

-This form MUST be filed with the PUC form for Request to Intervene within the 30 day limit.

https://ftp.puc.texas.gov/public/puct-info/industry/electric/forms/ccn/intervene.pdf

- Then go to the PUC Interchange filer to file this form electronically.

https://interchange.puc.texas.gov/filer/controlnumber/

- Please watch the videos referenced above in 1.d.

3. Helpful Filing Details -

--a. Here is a link to an Intervenor Testimony Template in PDF fromat that can be of assistance to Do-It-Yourself. If you would like to have a Word Template, here is a link to download the Testimony Template Doc.

Reminder, direct testimony for Intervenors on Bell County East to Big Hill, CCN 56475, is due May 13th.

--b. All Docket Numbers have been assigned for the CCNs filed by the TSPs. They are as follows:

59315 - "Dinosaur to Longshore" - CCN number

59029 - "Longshore to Drill Hole" - CCN number

59475 - "Bell East to Big Hill" - CCN number

59182 - "Big Hill to Sand Lake" - CCN number

59336 - "Howard to Solstice" - CCN number

4. PUC Calendar - https://www.puc.texas.gov/agency/calendar/

5. General Project Timeline - The project is already underway, with several key milestones scheduled. Please note this is fluid. We will do our best to stay updated alongside you. Here is a summary for frame of reference.

- January-May 2025: Identification of preliminary alternative route segments.

- April 2025: PUC orders construction of the 765-kV lines.

- June 2025: Public open houses for public feedback. This was open to affected landowners who received a letter last summer. However, for landowners that only recently received a letter due to new pathways for the lines being submitted by the TSPs, they will not have the opportunity to participate in public open houses. These meetings were staged in a manner that complies with the law but were an insult to landowners and were not publicized.

- Winter 2025/Early Spring 2026: Filing of joint application with PUC to amend Certificates of Convenience and Necessity (CCNs).

-Early Spring 2026: PUC review and processing of application.

-Summer/Fall 2026: PUC decision and final route determination expected.

-Summer 2030: Estimated project in-service date.