WETT is rate-regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). WETT’s transmission rate is approved by the PUCT, and it is one of the components of retail electric service charges.
All of WETT's transmission facilities are located within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region. WETT follows the ERCOT Protocols and Operating Guides and coordinates all transmission operations with ERCOT.
WETT operates its transmission system in compliance with the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) reliability standards as enforced by the Texas Reliability Entity (Texas RE). WETT submits regular informational filings to the Texas RE and is subject to audit by the regulatory authority.
TRANSMISSION PROJECTS
Bearkat to North McCamey Transmission Project
Wind Energy Transmission Texas (WETT) and LCRA Transmission Services Corporation (LCRA TSC) are jointly proposing to build and operate a new 345-kilovolt transmission line to improve reliability and accommodate future demand and generating capacity growth in West Texas. The new transmission line is planned for portions of Upton, Reagan and Glasscock counties. It will connect LCRA TSC’s existing North McCamey Substation in Upton County with WETT’s existing Bearkat Substation in Glasscock County, which are about 60 miles apart.
The project requires WETT and LCRA TSC to amend their certificates of convenience and necessity (CCNs) with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. As part of the process, WETT and LCRA TSC will seek input from state and local elected officials and various agencies to identify routing constraints to help determine potential locations for new transmission facilities and assess the project’s potential impacts. WETT and LCRA TSC will hold open houses for the public to learn more about the project and provide their feedback.
September 2022
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) Board of Directors recently designated the project critical to reliability of the ERCOT system. Projects designated as “critical” are considered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on an expedited basis. LCRA TSC and WETT plan to file their joint CCN application by June 2023
January 2023
Jan. 17-19 | Public Open Houses
Representatives from LCRA TSC, WETT and POWER Engineers, the routing consulting firm, will be available to answer questions and discuss specific aspects of the project.
Jan. 17, 5-8 p.m.
Upton County 4H Community Center
18001 W. Hwy. 67, McCamey, TX 79752
Jan. 18, 5-8 p.m.
Reagan County Activity Center
1205 N. Montana Ave., Big Lake, TX 76932
Jan. 19, 5-8 p.m.
St. Lawrence Parish Hall
2400 FM 2401, Garden City, TX 79739
Jan. 20, 2023 | Open house materials
WETT and LCRA TSC hosted open houses Jan. 17-19 to share information with the public and answer questions about the project. Review the information from the open houses below, fill out this questionnaire and submit your feedback on this project to WETT by Jan. 31, 2023.
Exhibits [PDF]
Maps: The following maps depict routing constraints and preliminary alternate route segments.
Preliminary Alternative Route Segments and Land Use Constraints maps
Open house notification maps (Use this overview map to determine which of the following three maps are relevant to your property.)
Preliminary alternative route segments map now available
LCRA TSC and WETT’s consultant, POWER Engineers, delineated the project study area and has begun data collection and constraint mapping. Click to view the alternative route segments map.
Map
study area
____________________________ Project Timeline ___________________________
2022
August | ERCOT Board designates project as Tier 1 critical status
September-December | LCRA TSC/WETT identify preliminary alternate route segments
2023
January | Public open houses
Jan. 17, 5-8 p.m.
Upton County 4H Community Center
18001 W. Hwy. 67, McCamey, TX 79752
Jan. 18, 5-8 p.m.
Reagan County Activity Center
1205 N. Montana Ave., Big Lake, TX 76932
Jan. 19, 5-8 p.m.
St. Lawrence Parish Hall
2400 FM 2401, Garden City, TX 79739
June 22, 2023 | Application filed with the Public Utility Commission of Texas
LCRA TSC and WETT filed an application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) on June 22 to amend their Certificates of Convenience and Necessity for the North McCamey to Bearkat 345-kV Transmission Line Project. The application includes data on 50 alternative routes that range from approximately 61 to 84 miles. Numerous other routes could be created by combining the filed segments into additional routes. The route order is numerical and does not signify any preference on LCRA TSC or WETT’s part as to which route is ultimately approved.
In the application, LCRA TSC and WETT identify Route 29 (consisting of segments 1-3-7-8-12-13-15-16B-22-30-45-58-59-60-62-84-85-90-99-104-106-112-134-138-140-147-148-151-154-161-163-164-170-172-175-177) as the filed route that LCRA TSC and WETT believe best addresses the PUC’s routing criteria. LCRA TSC and WETT based this on factors such as Route 29’s relatively low estimated cost and short length, and other criteria relating to the overall manner in which Route 29 minimizes impacts to the community by paralleling existing transmission line rights of way for a significant portion of its length, minimizing the number of habitable structures within proximity to the project, and minimizing impacts to natural and cultural resources.
All routes and route segments included in the application —available at the link above — are available for selection and approval by the PUC. The deadline for intervention in PUC docket No. 55120 is August 7, 2023. If approved by the PUC, the transmission line is scheduled to be energized by June 2026.
Attachments to the CCN application:
Attachment 1: Environmental Assessment (EA) and Alternative Route Analysis [PDF]
Appendix D (Figure 4-16) to the Environmental Assessment includes two topographic maps of the primary alternative routes [PDF]
Appendix E (Figure 5-1) to the Environmental Assessment includes two aerial maps of habitable structures and
other land use features in the vicinity of the primary alternative routes [PDF]Table 5-1 to the Environmental Assessment includes environmental data for the primary route evaluation
Table 5-2 to the Environmental Assessment includes environmental data for the primary segment evaluation
Attachment 4c: August 2022 ERCOT Board of Director Meeting Minutes [PDF]
Attachment 8: Copy of Utility and Public Officials Notice [PDF]
Attachment 9: List of Utilities and Pipeline Operators to be Noticed [PDF]
Attachment 10: List of Municipal, County, State, and Federal Authorities to be Noticed [PDF]
Updated routing maps
The alternative route segments and directly affected properties can be viewed via the interactive mapping tool. Zoom in and out on aerial imagery that depicts primary alternate transmission line route segments, potential substation sites and property line information obtained from the county appraisal district. Note: High-speed internet is recommended. These maps are also called “Attachment 5” in the CCN application.
August 8, 2023 | Technical Conference
The Technical Conference in the North McCamey - to - Bearkat 345 – kV Transmission Line Project in Glasscock, Reagan, and Upton Counties (Docket 55120) will begin at 9:00 a.m. on August 8, 2023.
The technical conference may be accessed through the following Zoom link:
https://jwllp.zoom.us/j/98807510479?pwd=eU5QMk5DMVVSOHJKOTNpYklwZDVLQT09
Meeting ID: 988 0751 0479
Password: 420904
US Toll-free Telephone Access: 888 475 4499
Dec 14, 2023 | PUC selects route for transmission line
The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved Route NM19-OXY consisting of the following segments: 1, 2, 5, 11, 13, 15, 16B, 22, 30, 45, 58, 59, 60, 62, 84, 85, 90, 99, 104, 106, 112, 134, 138, 140, 146, 153, 155, 157, 158, 176 and 177.
See the ruling [PDF]. Use the interactive mapping tool to zoom in and out on aerial imagery depicting approved Route NM19-OXY. Note: High-speed internet is recommended.
2026
TBD | Estimated project in-service date
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Resources
Certificate process for transmission
Texas Landowner’s Bill of Rights
Contact
Travis Leverett, WETT Regulatory Manager
504-427-9750
Competitive Affiliates
PUC Substantive Rule 25.272(i)(2) and WETT’s Code of Conduct require Wind Energy Transmission Texas (WETT) to post a conspicuous notice of any new competitive affiliates on its website for at least 30 consecutive calendar days.
Company Name Date Posted
None at this time