Questions raised, but few answered, at transmission line town hall
Dozens of landowners attended a town hall at the Burnet Community Center on Oct. 21, 2025, to learn more about a proposed high-voltage transmission line that would cut through the north end of Burnet County. A representative from the Public Utilities Commission of Texas, Mike Hoke (at the front of the room), heard ample questions and concerns from those present. Staff photo by Dakota Morrissiey
Landowners turned out in force Oct. 21 for a town hall in Burnet regarding a massive proposed transmission line that would cut through the north end of Burnet County. During the Public Utilities Commission of Texas-led event, many questions were raised, but few were answered, and solid feedback might not come until an application for the state project is filed, likely in November or December.
PUCT Director of Public Engagement Mike Hoke took questions from those present at the Tuesday meeting on the Bell County East to Big Hill 765-kilovolt Transmission Line Project. Plans consist of running 200 miles of high-voltage transmission lines from Central Texas to West Texas to provide power to the Permian Basin region. The project would require building 15-story towers across rural ranchland in Burnet County.
FOR MORE: Read about the project’s origins in the June 11, 2025, DailyTrib.com story “Massive transmission line would cut through Burnet County.”
Several landowners had pointed questions for Hoke:
“What information does PUCT have, if any, concerning who the end user is going to be?”
“Was thought given to the installation of co-generation plants adjacent to the users as opposed to transmission lines across the state?”
“We just push (the transmission lines) off to our neighbors?”
“When were you going to tell us that this is for cryptomining?”
“Why can’t the state not simply say you (Permian Basin users) can provide your own power?”
“What’s going to be done for the landowners that are going to be affected?”
“Do you know how much of this electricity goes, long term, to data centers?”
The entire town hall, which was organized by the Burnet County Commissioners Court, can be watched on the Burnet County Government YouTube channel.
While residents had dozens more questions and concerns about the risks, impacts, and true purpose of the 200-mile transmission line, and how to stop it, Hoke explained that not much could be done or addressed until an official application for the project was filed with the PUCT.
“Any other specific concerns you have, you will have to have in your comment, in your intervention, in your protest,” he said, deep into the 2½-hour town hall. “Things that aren’t in the application that you think (PUCT) commissioners need to know to make an informed decision, it all needs to be in the public record (to be considered).”
Hoke was referring to an application that will eventually be filed by the Lower Colorado River Authority and Oncor Electric Delivery. The PUCT has tasked the two entities with the actual construction of the 765kV line. Once the application is filed, anyone potentially impacted by the project will have a window to file a comment, protest, or intervention.
The application will likely be filed by late November or December, according to LCRA and Oncor estimates, at which point, official filings for the case can begin. An interactive map from the LCRA gives a clear view of the potential routes for the transmission line.
Those impacted will have 30 days to file for an intervention. Until that window opens, comments may be made and the case can be followed through PUCT docket no. 58559 on the commission’s website.
Once all filings have been made, PUCT will review the submissions and make a decision on the proposed transmission line route, how it will be done, and whether it will be done at all. Until then, no solid decisions can be made regarding the project, Hoke said.
The Burnet County Commissioners Court has established an information portal for the 765kV project on its website, outlining what is known so far and how to stay up to date on the project.
The attorney hired by Burnet County to help navigate the transmission line process, Margaret Pemberton, told those present at the town hall that the county could file as an intervener in the project when the time comes. As an intervener, the county would become a party to the case and have more input in the PUCT’s deliberation on the matter.
“(Filing) is something we’ve been discussing, and we’ve been drafting some things, but we wanted to hear input from the community first,” she said. “We have drafts that we are going to be filing soon.”
She also provided context for where Burnet County residents were in the process, hitting home that the time for action was soon, but not quite now.
“This (town hall) was really a forum to talk about the (PUCT) process, and we are so early in the process right now that we just don’t have answers,” Pemberton said.