AUSTIN, Texas, July 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Electric Transmission Texas, LLC (ETT) and Sharyland Utilities L.P. (Sharyland) have filed a joint application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to amend their Certificates of Convenience and Necessity to construct the Cross Valley Project, a proposed 345-kilovolt transmission line in portions of Hidalgo and Cameron counties in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
The proposed line would begin at the AEP Texas North Edinburg Substation in Hidalgo County, travel south to a location near the existing AEP Texas South McAllen Substation, then head east to the Brownsville Public Utilities Board Loma Alta Substation in Cameron County near the Brownsville Ship Channel.
Based on preliminary routing, the total transmission project could be from 96 to 125 miles. The final route length will depend on which route is approved by the PUCT.
"This project is needed in order to ensure continued reliable electric service for the Lower Rio Grande Valley, which is forecast to have continued electrical demand growth," said ETT President Calvin Crowder. "The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has determined this project is critical for the reliability of the ERCOT system and, specifically, the Brownsville area."
"The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission and Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito areas are consistently among the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Texas, and with this growth comes an increased need for reliable electric power," said Sharyland President Mark Caskey. "This project will help ensure the continued stability and reliability of the system that serves customers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and will help communities in the region support efforts for future economic growth."
ETT will construct the western portion of the line, and Sharyland will construct the eastern portion. The estimated cost for the project ranges from $314 to $405 million. Subject to timely approval by the PUCT, the project is targeted for completion by summer 2016.
ERCOT endorsed the project in January 2012. Since that time, ETT and Sharyland have worked with an experienced routing consultant to perform an environmental assessment and routing analysis for the proposed transmission line. In addition, public input was gathered at jointly hosted public open houses in October 2012 and in February 2013.
Official notifications were mailed July 3 to all potentially affected landowners, along with maps of the proposed routes, and a similar notice will be published in area newspapers. More information can be found at www.crossvalleyproject.com.
The application was filed under PUC Docket No. 41606 - Joint Application of Electric Transmission Texas, LLC and Sharyland Utilities, L.P. to Amend Their Certificates of Convenience and Necessity for the Proposed North Edinburg to Loma Alta Double-Circuit 345 kV Transmission Line in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, Texas.
About Electric Transmission Texas, LLC
ETT is a joint venture between subsidiaries of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. The joint venture acquires, constructs, owns and operates transmission facilities within ERCOT, primarily in and around the AEP Texas Central Company and AEP Texas North Company service territories. More information about ETT can be found at www.ettexas.com.
AEP, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5.3 million customers in 11 states. AEP (www.aep.com) has extensive experience building extra-high-voltage 765-kV transmission lines and owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes 2,100 miles of 765-kV transmission lines, more than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (www.midamerican.com), based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, is a global provider of energy services. Through its energy-related businesses, MidAmerican provides electric and natural gas service to more than 7 million customers worldwide. These businesses are Pacific Power, Rocky Mountain Power and PacifiCorp Energy, comprising PacifiCorp; MidAmerican Energy Company; Northern Powergrid Holdings Company; Northern Natural Gas Company; Kern River Gas Transmission Company; MidAmerican Renewables, LLC; MidAmerican Transmission, LLC; and CalEnergy Philippines. PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy Company own and operate more than 20,000 combined miles of electric transmission lines.
About Sharyland Utilities, L.P.
Sharyland is a Texas-based public electric utility that is fully regulated by the PUCT. Its corporate headquarters are located in Dallas, and Sharyland currently serves approximately 50,000 customers in 29 counties throughout Texas. Sharyland is privately-owned by Hunter L. Hunt and other members of the family of Ray L. Hunt, and is managed by Hunter L. Hunt. For more information, please visit www.sharyland.com.
SOURCE Electric Transmission Texas, LLC
