PUC faces pressure to consider underground option in Texas power line fight

(UI) — A six-year dispute over a high-voltage transmission line in Driftwood, Texas, continues to divide residents, developers and regulators, with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) postponing a decision yet again, according to KVUE.

Homeowners in the Rim Rock community say a developer’s plan to move a 138-kilovolt line within 300 feet of houses bypasses the usual public hearing process.

The proposed reroute, tied to the Driftwood Golf Course owned by Discovery Land Company, was approved in 2019 under an exception allowing changes on the same property at the developer’s expense. Residents contend that rule wasn’t meant for cases affecting nearby homes and are urging the line be buried or go through a process with public input.

During a PUC meeting on July 31, residents cited safety risks, potential wildfire hazards and diminished property values. The developer’s representatives argued the change meets legal criteria and that burying the line would be too expensive.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s attorney noted the utility does not currently own underground transmission lines, raising concerns about long-term maintenance and cost allocation.

PUC commissioners said the issue was complex and postponed their ruling. The dispute — which an administrative judge declined to hear — highlights the tension between property rights and Texas’ efforts to expand power infrastructure to meet growing demand, KVUE reported.

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