The countdown starts: 30 days to file intervention/protest in state transmission line project
Stock image of transmission line for illustrative purposes only
Thousands of property owners along the proposed route of a 200-plus mile state transmission line project now have 30 days to file an intervention or protest against it. All proposed routes for the line run through Burnet County, with some now veering within a few miles of Burnet and Bertram according to updated plans for the project.
Oncor Electric Delivery and the Lower Colorado River Authority filed their official application for the Bell County East to Big Hill 765 kV Transmission Line on Thursday, March 26, with the Public Utility Commission of Texas, triggering the 30-day countdown.
Once the 30-day deadline is up, on April 27, the PUCT will begin hearing interventions and protests leading up to a final decision on which route the line should take or if the project needs to be altered. A decision is expected by Sept. 22, 180 days from the date the application was filed.
The application for the certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) is a major step in the transmission line project’s development, and gives concerned parties the first solid look at the dimensions and scope of the line.
- To view the full CCN application, visit this link: Oncor and LCRA CCN joint application
- To file a formal intervention or protest, visit this link: PUCT interchange portal for control number 59475
- To learn more about the intervention and protest processes, visit this link: PUCT Permian Basin Reliability Plan
- To see an interactive map for all proposed routes for the line, visit this link: Bell County East to Big Hill 765 kV Transmission Line interactive map
In this case, “intervening” would mean participating in the actual legal process of developing the project and pleading your respective case on how it should be adjusted to accommodate your position. Intervening is limited to property owners that live within 300 feet of the proposed line routes. “Protesting” refers to a publicly filed comment that will be taken into account as part of the PUCT’s consideration on the matter. A protest can be filed by any interested party.
The line would run over 200 miles total, from Bell County to Schleicher County, passing through Burnet County along the way. According to the project developers, it is meant to bring power to far west Texas to help power an array of rising power needs for cryptocurrency mining, “green hydrogen” projects, industrial uses, data centers, and the electrification of the petroleum industry.
Texas House District 19 Rep. Ellen Troxclair, representing Burnet County, told DailyTrib that now was the time for action for residents concerned about the line.
“This is our opportunity to make sure that Burnet County suffers as little as possible,” she said. “Unfortunately there are no proposed lines that do not impact Burnet County. That makes it even more critical for us to help direct the line that will be least impactful to Burnet County residents and the Hill Country.”
Troxclair explained that she and other legislators voted in favor of House Bill 5066 in 2023, which aimed to make the Texas power grid more reliable. Part of that bill included specifically bringing more power to the Permian Basin, but there was no clear direction on how that would be done in the language of the bill.
“There was certainly not full transparency with how drastically this would impact the Hill Country,” she said. “I understand that development is inevitable, but it needs to be managed in a thoughtful way that does not destroy the beauty and individual property of our state.”
Critics of the transmission line say that if it is approved, it would likely have severe impacts on property owners resulting in large eminent domain seizures, reduced property values, and negative impacts on the daily lives of nearby residents. The line would likely require 200-300 foot easements and 15-18 story towers suspending the highest voltage powerlines that Texas has ever seen.
“Nobody anticipated that this (project) would be so massive,” Troxclair said. “Honestly, rural Texas is so fed up. It’s not just this, its battery storage facilities, it’s the rock quarries, it’s the railroad. This kind of feels like this is the straw that is breaking the camel’s back.”
According to Troxclair, the Texas Senate is reviewing the proposed 765 kV line route plans and assessing whether the current regulatory processes and timelines are sufficient in protecting landowner rights.
Burnet County action and impacts
Burnet County’s local leadership have consistently expressed their opposition to the project overall.
The Burnet County Commissioners Court is holding a special meeting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1 to determine the next steps forward now that the CCN application has been filed. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in the second-floor courtroom of the Burnet County Courthouse at 220 S. Pierce Street in Burnet.
“I’m going to push for intervention,” Burnet County Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle told DailyTrib. “The route lines are bad, but the general idea of the whole process is too.”
Beierle, whose precinct covers most of northeast Burnet County, took particular issue with the fact that the line routes were expanded in the application. Anyone who was not previously affected by the transmission line, and unaware of it, now only has 30 days to research the project and determine whether or not they want to intervene and protest.
“To actually add more to it with only a 30 day notice, it should be illegal,” he said. “It’s just wrong all the way around.
The preliminary line routes were restricted to mostly northern Burnet County, impacting mostly rural landowners, but that has changed with the official application. The latest proposed routes for the line now show that at least one path, G44, runs within just a few miles of Burnet and Bertram.
According to Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson, one of the biggest issues has been making landowners aware of the transmission line.
“The biggest surprise is learning how many people don’t know this is going on,” he said.
The judge and the county took proactive measures recently, sending over 600 letters to landowners within 1,500 of the previously proposed line routes, notifying them of the project and its potential impacts. More letters could be sent out now that the official application has been filed.
The letter reads:
“Dear Burnet County Landowner,
Recent mapping data indicates that your property is within 1,500 feet of a proposed route for a
massive 765-kV ultra-high-voltage transmission line.
The utility companies (Oncor and LCRA TSC) are expected to file their formal application with
the Public Utility Commission of Texas by late March or early April 2026. Once this happens, the
process moves rapidly.
Take Action Now
While Burnet County and the City of Burnet have formed a joint commission to represent the
community, the County cannot legally advocate for your specific property rights or the impact
this powerline can have on your property. You must act independently to protect your interests:
- Verify Your Impact: Review the preliminary maps immediately at
www.BurnetCountyTexas.org/page/765kv.line.
- Stay Informed: Follow the project timeline closely. The formal filing in the coming weeks
will trigger critical legal deadlines for your intervention or public comment.
- Advocate for Yourself: Use the enclosed flyer from local community advocates to
understand how to voice your concerns directly to the Public Utility Commission.
Do not wait for a final decision. It is your responsibility to engage in this process now to ensure
your property and interests are considered.”
Background on the Bell County East to Big Hill 765 kV Transmission Line
The Bell County East to Big Hill 765-kV Transmission Project has been on Burnet County’s radar since June 2025. Since then, public opposition and protest has risen and the county has officially taken up opposition to the state project.
The transmission line project’s intention is to bring power to West Texas, but many Burnet County residents believe that it would be at the expense of Hill Country landowners.
The project was mandated by the Texas Legislature in 2023 through House Bill 5066. The bill aimed to increase the reliability of the Texas electric grid, and also specifically targeted bringing power to the Permian Basin region of West Texas.
The Public Utility Commission of Texas took on the task, requesting the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to conduct a study on the power needs of the Permian Basin, resulting in the Permian Basin Reliability Study.
The results of that study showed a massive increase in the projected demand for electricity from that region, mostly to satisfy an estimated addition of 11,695 megawatts to the grid from the non-oil and gas industry. Per ERCOT’s study, this load would be made up of 59 percent cryptocurrency operations, 22 percent “green hydrogen” projects, 13 percent “other” commercial and industrial projects, and 6 percent datacenters.
Once ERCOT’s study was completed, the PUCT tasked Oncor Electric Delivery and the Lower Colorado River Authority with devising a plan to deliver more power to the Permian Basin. After months of planning the organizations created a preliminary plan and route for 765 kilovolt powerlines to be run from Central Texas to West Texas. Burnet County was notified of the plans, and the fact that it would likely be included in all possible routes, in May 2025.
The project, to be paid for by the state, has an estimated total cost of $33 billion, and would include three major lines, including the Bell County East to Big Hill project.
Read the DailyTrib stories below to learn more:
- ”Massive transmission line would cut through Burnet County,” June 6, 2025
- ”Burnet County considers careful next steps in response to transmission line,” June 25, 2025
- “Burnet County seeks legal counsel for transmission line project,” July 10, 2025
- “Burnet County OKs funds for transmission line legal help,” July 22, 2025
- “Power line project protesters: Why here?,” Oct. 13, 2025
- “Questions raised, but few answered, at transmission line town hall,” Oct. 24, 2025
- “Burnet County takes official stance against transmission line,” Oct. 29, 2025
- “Oncor and LCRA update transmission line timeline,” Nov. 4, 2025
- “Llano County joins transmission line opposition,” Nov. 11, 2025
- “Transmission line opposition creates protest schedule and theme song ‘Two Hundred Miles of Greed’,” Nov. 24, 2025
- “Troxclair takes public stance against transmission line project,” Jan. 20, 2026
- “Burnet County considers intergovernmental commission to combat transmission line; community workshop Feb. 3,” Jan. 29, 2026
- “Burnet County group hosting anti-transmission line meeting series: ‘The time to advocate for our area is now,” Feb. 20, 2026
- “Burnet County and city of Burnet join forces to battle state transmission line project,” Feb. 25, 2026
- “Transmission line plans expected soon; Llano County now in possible impact zone,” March 10, 2026