The Oncor Electric Delivery Company has proposed a new electricity transmission line called the Dinosaur-Longshore Transmission Line, which might cross through Brown County.  The line would send 765 kV of electricity from Somervall County, near Glen Rose, about 250-miles west to Howard County, near Forsan.  A number of possible routes have been proposed, two of which would cross northern Brown County.  The Oncor web site says the new line would address “surging demand in high growth areas, including the record-growing West Texas region.”  The web site also says “These lines reduce grid congestion and planned outages, especially during extreme weather/demand.  That means more effective and efficient power delivery for homes and businesses.”

At the February 9 meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court, a number of citizens from Central Texas addressed the Court and argued against the power line, citing threats to health, safety, and property.  The Commissioners subsequently passed a resolution in opposition to the line crossing through Brown County.

Commissioner Joel Kelton recently received information from the office of Texas Senator Phil King on how individuals can file a protest against the Dinosaur-Longshore Transmission Line with the Public Utility Commission of Texas.  Open the web site for the Public Utility Commission (www.puc.texas.gov), then follow these steps:

1.  Click on Filings, then click on Interchange Filer
2. Click Begin
3. Enter the control number, 59531. (That is the docket number for the Dinosaur-Longshore Line.)
4. Protesters should NOT check the “Confidential” button.  That is for specific items in a case that meet the legal standard for confidential filings.
5. Click Next
6. Enter your contact information
7. Click Next
8. Enter your name for the filing party or the name of the group you are representing.
9. Select “Comment” in the pull-down menu
10. Enter “Protest” in the filing description
11. Click Next
12. Attach a document or picture of your protest letter that tells the Commissioners what action you think they should take in this docket.
13. Click Next
14. Review your information before submitting it.  Once you submit, it becomes part of the public record and cannot be edited.
15. Check “I Am Not a Robot” and hit Submit.  You will receive an email confirmation that your protest has been filed.

Once Oncor chooses a route for the electrical line, they will file an application with the Public Utility Commission.  Affected landowners should receive a notice that the filing has occurred.  At that point the landowners will have a 30-day window to intervene and comment through the steps shown above.

The possible routes for the electrical line are shown in the map above.

Additional PUCT information can be found by clicking the link below:

additional-puct-information