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

AI generated summary

The ongoing dispute over a high-voltage transmission line in Driftwood, Texas, has reached a critical juncture as the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) continues to delay its decision. Homeowners in the Rim Rock community are opposing a developer's plan to reroute a 138-kilovolt line close to their homes, arguing that the process has bypassed necessary public hearings. The reroute, linked to the Driftwood Golf Course owned by Discovery Land Company, was initially approved in 2019 under a rule that residents believe should not apply to projects impacting nearby residences.

During a recent PUC meeting, residents raised concerns about safety, wildfire risks, and property value depreciation, while the developer maintained that the reroute complies with legal standards and that burying the line would incur excessive costs. The attorney for Pedernales Electric Cooperative expressed worries about the implications of maintaining underground lines, as the utility lacks experience in this area. The PUC commissioners acknowledged the complexity of the situation and opted to postpone their ruling, reflecting the ongoing tension between property rights and the need for expanded power infrastructure in Texas.