Q. What is the Friendship to Manchaca Transmission Project?
A. Lower Colorado River Authority's Transmission Services Corporation is working on an electric transmission project to meet the needs for electric service in the rapidly growing southern Travis County and northern Hays county area, near the proposed State Highway 45 (SH 45) extension. The project includes a new distribution substation and a new seven-mile high-voltage transmission line that will connect the new substation with two existing substations owned by Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC). LCRA, through its affiliate, LCRA TSC, will build and own the transmission line and substation, which will improve the reliability of electric service to customers served by Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
Q. Why is this new distribution substation and transmission line needed?
A. Rapid growth at the southern end of MoPac (Loop 1) has caused increased demands on the electrical system. Such demands can result in system overloads that damage power equipment and cause widespread and prolonged power outages. Presently this area is served by two substations, the Manchaca Substation and the Friendship Substation. The facilities in these two substations are already at or near the maximum amount of electricity that they can reliably handle. Temporary facilities have been added at the Friendship Substation to handle the projected electric requirements. It is projected that both substations will reach their maximum capacity during the summer of 2007.
Additionally, the Manchaca Substation is served by a single transmission line. Nearly 5,500 customers served by the Manchaca Substation could experience an extended outage in the event of a failure along this transmission line. This new transmission line will provide an additional source of power for the Manchaca Substation and, along with the new SH 45 Substation, will provide a backup source of distribution power to the area. Many of the customers served by the substation are classified as critical loads. These include fire departments, utility services for water sewer and phone, schools, and some people on life support. Without immediate construction of this project, electric service in this area will no longer be considered reliable.
Q. Where will the new substation and transmission line be located?
The PUC has already approved the route for the transmission line as shown on the attached map. LCRA TSC will construct the proposed Escarpment Substation on 4.97 acres at 5900 SH 45, Austin, Texas, 2.7 miles south of the intersection of Mopac and Slaughter Lane. The transmission system will connect to the new Escarpment substation from two directions. The first transmission line segment will be constructed from the south beginning in the late spring 2007. It is planned for completion in the fall of 2007 to coincide with the Escarpment Substation. A second segment of the transmission line will continue from the Escarpment substation to the east to the Manchaca Substation on FM 1626. This second segment generally follows the existing and proposed SH 45 path until it nears FM 1626.
Q. Why is LCRA TSC constructing this project rather than PEC?
A. The right to build this line was granted to Pedernales Electric Cooperative by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) in 1999 and Pedernales Electric Cooperative has now transferred this right to LCRA TSC.
The primary focus of Pedernales Electric Cooperative is to provide retail service to members and provide the best distribution system to those customers. Since Pedernales Electric Cooperative has leased its transmission system to LCRA TSC since 1991 and LCRA operates the two systems together, Pedernales has chosen to transfer the building and operation of this transmission line to LCRA TSC.
Q. Was the public notified of the project when it was filed at the PUC in 1997?
A. Yes. The public had the opportunity to comment on the project, and 10 landowners intervened in the proceeding. The proceeding was resolved by a settlement in which all interveners agreed to the line's final route.
Q. Why is construction on the project just now starting?
A. Since the right to construct the transmission line was granted by the PUC in 1999, Pedernales Electric Cooperative was able to make other changes and modifications that cost-effectively allowed the Friendship-to-Manchaca project to be postponed. Currently, however, the load growth in the area has triggered an immediate need for this project. If the line and substation are not completed promptly, there will be considerable risk to the reliability of service in this area.
Q. When will this 138-kilovolt transmission line be in operation?
A. The construction of the first segment, Escarpment Substation, began in April 2007 and is scheduled to be energized in October 2007. The construction of the second segment in the SH 45 area will begin in November 2007 and is scheduled to be energized June 2008.
The energized date was delayed to allow LCRA TSC to work closely with local and state agencies to acquire easements on environmentally sensitive lands. LCRA TSC has been evaluating the environmental impacts and exploring alternative options to minimize impacts.
Q. Why is LCRA TSC constructing a portion of the line underground?
A. The PUC final order requires that the transmission line will include a portion of underground construction in one area. The underground portion of the transmission line has been located and designed in coordination and cooperative effort with the land owners. It will be constructed during the summer and fall of 2007.
Q. How will LCRA TSC coordinate its construction in light of the nearby SH 45 extension?
A. LCRA TSC is working closely with state and local entities coordinating construction where possible to minimize environmental impacts. The PUC’s final order states that the transmission line will be, to the extent possible, constructed along the existing Austin Energy easements, located along the northern side of the proposed SH 45 between the south end of MoPac and FM 1626.
Q. What will the transmission line structures look like and how tall will the towers be?
A. The PUC final order requires the overhead transmission line to use single-circuit, single-concrete and/or steel pole structures. Transmission towers supporting these types of lines are typically 85 to 110 feet above the ground, depending on topography and nearby structures, such as bridges and roads, that must be avoided for safety reasons.
Q. If the route crosses my land, how will I be affected?
A. LCRA TSC either has purchased or is negotiating to purchase easement rights along the path of the transmission line to allow for construction, operation, and maintenance of the line. An easement gives a utility the right to use privately owned land for a specific purpose. However, the landowner retains ownership of the property. The easement is described in a legal document that is recorded in the county deed records and is available for public inspection.
Q. How wide is the easement for the transmission line?
A. The PUC’s final order requires the easement to be 80 feet wide, as guided by the final design.
Q. How much does LCRA TSC pay for an easement?
A. LCRA TSC pays fair market value for transmission line easements. The fair market value is determined by conducting an appraisal of the easement. A copy of the appraisal report is provided to a property owner at the time an offer is made to purchase the easement.
Q. Will LCRA TSC negotiate with property owners to acquire easements (the right to use a limited portion of the necessary land)?
A. Yes, LCRA TSC either already has purchased easements or is working with individual property owners to acquire an easement to install the new electric transmission line.
Q. How will LCRA TSC address environmental protection requirements in this area?
A. LCRA TSC will comply with all federal and state environment requirements, as it does in the construction of all of its projects. The first phase of surveying, including archeology surveys, and pedestrian karst surveys, have been performed. The next phase will include surveys for vegetation trimming clearing, geophysical studies and soil borings (i.e., core sampling). LCRA TSC has been working extensively with the City of Austin staff since 2005 to identify the best alignment to minimize environmental impacts.
Q. What will be the impact of electric and magnetic fields?
A. Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are found everywhere electricity is used, including hair dryers, alarm clocks, computers, televisions, and power lines. Some concerns have been raised in the past about potential health effects of EMF. Although there has been extensive scientific research, no direct link has been established between exposure to power lines and adverse health effects. Neither the state government nor the federal government has established any health standards relating to EMF. LCRA TSC continually monitors EMF research and stays abreast of scientific developments in the field, and it does not anticipate any problems related to EMF on this project. For more information, see the Electric and Magnetic Fields section of the LCRA Web site.
Q. Whom can I contact at LCRA regarding this project?
A. LCRA TSC staff is available to respond to questions by mail or telephone. If you have questions about this project, you may send a letter to:
Lower Colorado River Authority
P.O. Box 220
Austin, TX 78767-0220
Attention: David Payne
Or, contact David Payne at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 4532
or 512-369-4176
david.payne@lcra.org
