The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) referred an application by LCRA Transmission Services Corporation (LCRA TSC) to build a new transmission line through the Hill Country to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), which will conduct a hearing and issue a proposal for decision.

The project the PUC referred to SOAH on July 30 is LCRA TSC's application to amend its Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the McCamey D to Kendall to Gillespie project, a 345-kilovolt transmission line which would connect a station to be constructed near Eldorado with stations in Kendall and Gillespie counties.

Also on July 30, SOAH administrative law judges issued two orders in the case. The first order sets a procedural schedule and establishes hearing procedures. The order can be found on the PUC Interchange at http://interchange.puc.state.tx.us/WebApp/Interchange/Documents/38354_565_662974.PDF.

The second order discusses special procedures for processing the case. To see the order, go to the PUC Interchange at http://interchange.puc.state.tx.us/WebApp/Interchange/Documents/38354_563_662903.PDF.

Important dates in the case include an intervention deadline of Aug. 27, a prehearing conference date of Sept. 1 at the Palmer Events Center in Austin, and a hearing on the merits scheduled for Oct.25 through Nov. 5 at a location to be determined.

For more details about the schedule, intervention and its requirements and other information related to this case, log in to the PUC Interchange using the number 38354 at the login prompt for more information on filings and orders in the case. Dates are subject to change, so watch the interchange daily for updates.

LCRA TSC mailed about 5,100 notice letters to landowners along each of the 75 alternative routes the same day it filed the application on July 28. Newspaper notices describing LCRA TSC's proposed routes began running in area newspapers the week of Aug.2.

LCRA TSC's application, attachments to the application, witness direct testimony, and exhibits can be viewed on the PUC Interchange, the official filing repository in the case, and on www.lcra.org/crez. Interactive aerial maps - including a tutorial explaining how to manipulate the maps - showing all alternative routes are viewable on LCRA's website. Copies of the maps also can be viewed at county courthouses in Schleicher, Sutton, Menard, Kimble, Mason, Gillespie, Kerr and Kendall counties.

The new transmission line could be between 157 and 199 miles, depending on the route chosen. Its estimated cost is $367 million. Counties that could be impacted by this CREZ project include Schleicher, Sutton, Kimble, Kerr, Kendall, Gillespie, Menard and Mason.

The line is part of a $4.9 billion effort mandated by the Texas Legislature to allow for reliable and cost-effective delivery of power produced from areas in West Texas and the Panhandle, called Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ), to homes and businesses throughout the state

Persons with questions about the transmission line can contact Sara Morgenroth, LCRA senior regulatory case manager, at (512) 369-4151, or 800-776-5272, Ext. 4151.