State Sen. Bob Hall has asked Gov. Greg Abbott to pause all extra-high-voltage transmission line projects. This comes as regulators meet to discuss three such proposed projects.
Texans face the first phase of the 765-kV Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP). STEP-Permian, a component of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan (PBRP), proposes three transmission lines spanning more than 1,200 miles to move power from East Texas to the natural gas-rich Permian Basin. Lifetime costs are reportedly approaching $100 billion to be borne by ratepayers. A pro-landowner group likened this project “to hauling water to the sea.”
The three proposed lines comprise five interconnected segments that would cross North, Central, and South Texas. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) must approve each segment.
Critics have argued that PUCT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and electricity delivery company Oncor transformed a regional reliability directive into a de facto statewide 765‑kV grid plan without an explicit vote by state lawmakers. PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson admitted during a July state Senate committee hearing that lawmakers never mandated the 765-kV transmission project.
At the same hearing, landowners expressed that the project’s compressed timeline denied rural Texans meaningful due process. Two days later, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and State Sen. Charles Schwertner (R–Georgetown) called for PUCT to deny all pending 765-kV applications until state lawmakers reform the approval process in 2027.
In an August 12 letter, Hall (R–Edgewood) advocated for all 765-kV projects to be paused until state lawmakers conduct a thorough review. “This review should examine whether existing laws encourage reliance on the outdated technology of traditional transmission solutions over newer grid-enhancing technologies, and whether cost-recovery mechanisms appropriately support innovation, efficiency, reliability, and responsible stewardship of ratepayer dollars,” he wrote.
The ERCOT board endorsed STEP’s two other phases in December 2025. These are the STEP-Western and STEP-Eastern 765-kV lines.
The roughly $742 million STEP-Western line, a project of transmission companies Oncor and AEP Texas, would span roughly 100 miles, broken down into two segments. The approximately $9.3 billion STEP-Eastern spans about 1,100 miles and comprises seven segments. This is a joint venture by AEP Texas, City of San Antonio-owned CPS Energy, Oncor, and CenterPoint Energy.
CenterPoint Energy already held three open houses in July for the Hillje-Blu Lacy segment, stretching 155 miles from Wharton County to Nueces County. AEP Texas has scheduled three open houses for the Blu Lacy – Howard segment, spanning 150 miles connecting Nueces County with Bexar County, on August 25, 26, and 27.
CenterPoint and AEP Texas are partners on these 765-kV segments. A CenterPoint executive stated the company expects to file an application with PUCT in early 2027.
Gov. Abbott has called for “guidelines and guardrails” on transmission line expansion.
Hall hopes he’ll support a prudent pause on all 765-kV projects. “It is time to fully hear all the viewpoints and consider these proposals more carefully,” he wrote to Abbott. “Texans deserve the confidence that every reasonable alternative has been considered. Please support a statewide legislative review before Texas continues moving forward with additional 765-kV transmission projects or related transmission upgrades.”
PUCT, whose commissioners are Gov. Greg Abbott appointees, will discuss the STEP Permian lines on August 14. Gleeson has stated “no final decisions will be made” on any individual line.
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