Bakersfield to Solstice Transmission Project

Project Updates

Feb. 27, 2020
LCRA TSC has begun construction on the transmission line and the expansion work at the Bakersfield Substation. Transmission structure foundations are being drilled. The project remains on track for completion in December 2020.

May 28, 2019
The Public Utility Commission of Texas issued the final order approving the Bakersfield to Solstice Transmission Project.

May 23, 2019
The Public Utility Commission of Texas adopted the revised proposed order in the Bakersfield to Solstice Transmission Line Project CCN case consistent with the Chair’s memo (PUC Docket No. 48787). The proposed order approves Route 24.

April 22, 2019
The Public Utility Commission of Texas’ Office of Policy & Docket Management on April 22 issued a proposed order in the Bakersfield to Solstice Transmission Line Project CCN case (PUC Docket No. 48787). The Commission will consider the Bakersfield to Solstice docket for a final decision at its May 23 open meeting.

February 2019
Bakersfield to Solstice application severed from Docket 48785 and remanded to commission for consideration

The State Office of Administrative Hearings on Feb. 22 filed SOAH Order No. 10, which severed LCRA TSC and AEP Texas’ joint Bakersfield to Solstice application from Oncor and AEP Texas’ joint Sand Lake to Solstice application. Docket 48787 was reinstated for the Bakersfield to Solstice application. The order also remanded the Bakersfield to Solstice application to the Public Utility Commission of Texas for consideration as a settled case.

Dec. 11, 2018
Docket Consolidation and Intervention Deadline

On Nov. 7, 2018, LCRA Transmission Services Corporation, AEP Texas Inc. and Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC filed applications to amend their certificates of convenience and necessity (CCNs) issued by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). On the same date, the utilities filed a joint motion to consolidate the two dockets. The commission referred the two dockets to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) on Nov. 14, 2018. On Nov. 15, 2018, the assigned administrative law judges issued SOAH Order No. 1, granting the motion to consolidate both dockets. Parties should no longer file documents in SOAH Docket No. 473-19-1266/PUC Docket No. 48787. All filings for both projects should occur under SOAH Docket No. 473-19-1265/PUC Docket No. 48785.

The PUC is closed Dec. 24 through Dec. 28, 2018; therefore the intervention deadline will be Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, as stated in the procedural schedule outlined in SOAH Order No. 2.

Nov. 7, 2018 Joint Application filed with the Public Utility Commission of Texas

LCRA TSC and AEP Texas filed a joint application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) on Nov. 7 to amend their Certificates of Convenience and Necessity for the Bakersfield to Solstice Transmission Project. The application includes data on 25 alternative routes that range from approximately 68 to 92 miles long and are estimated to cost approximately $194 million to $237 million (including station costs). 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 by LCRA TSC or AEP Texas as to which route is ultimately approved. 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. 48787 is Dec. 27, 2018. If approved by the PUC, the transmission line is scheduled to be energized by December 2020.

Attachments to the CCN application:

Attachment 1: Environmental Assessment and Alternative Route Analysis

• Figure 1-1 in the Environmental Assessment includes the Project Area
• Figure 2-1 in the Environmental Assessment includes the Study Area
• Figure 3-1 in the Environmental Assessment includes the Preliminary Alternative Route Segments
• Figure 3-13 in the Environmental Assessment includes the Primary Alternative Routes
• Table 4-1 in the Environmental Assessment includes data for the primary route evaluation.
• Table 4-2 in the Environmental Assessment includes data for the primary segment evaluation.
• Appendix A to the Environmental Assessment includes Agency and Other Correspondence
• Appendix B to the Environmental Assessment includes Public Involvement
• Appendix C to the Environmental Assessment includes data tables on Habitable Structures and Other Land Use Features in the Vicinity of the Primary Alternative Routes
• Appendix D to the Environmental Assessment includes three aerial maps of the primary alternative routes
  • Appendix D Figure 3-14 A
  • Appendix D Figure 3-14 B
  • Appendix D Figure 3-14 C
• Appendix E to the Environmental Assessment includes three topographic maps of the Habitable Structures and Other Land Use Features in the Vicinity of the Primary Alternative Routes
  • Appendix E Figure 4-1 A
  • Appendix E Figure 4-1 B
  • Appendix E Figure 4-1 C
• Appendix F to the Environmental Assessment includes LCRA TSC’s Oak Wilt Policy

Attachment 2a-g: ERCOT Correspondence
Attachment 3: Cost Estimates
Attachment 4: Location of Directly Affected Parcels and Habitable Structures (see updated routing maps section below)
Attachment 5: Landowner Letter Filing Notice
Attachment 6: Directly Affected Landowner List
Attachment 7: Notice Letters to Utilities, Public Officials, ISDs and DoD
Attachment 8: Notice List to Utilities, Public Officials, ISDs and DoD
Attachment 9: Fort Stockton Pioneer Newspaper Ad Attachment 10: TPWD Letter

Updated routing maps

The alternative route segments and directly affected properties can be viewed via the interactive mapping tool and the links to PDFs below. These maps are also called “Attachment 4″ in the CCN application.

• Section 1
• Section 2
• Section 3
• Section 4
• Section 5
• Section 6
• Section 7
• Section 8
• Section 9
• Section 10

July 12, 2018 Open house materials

LCRA TSC and AEP Texas hosted an open house on July 12 in Fort Stockton, Texas to share information with the public and answer questions about the project. Review the information below, fill out this questionnaire, and submit your feedback on this project to POWER Engineers by July 26.

• Exhibits [PDF]
• Maps: The following maps depict routing constraints and preliminary alternate route segments and the existing substation locations.
• Preliminary Alternative Route Segments and Land Use Constraints maps (aerial imagery)
• Map 1 – West [PDF]
• Map 2 – Central [PDF]
• Map 3 – East [PDF]
• Preliminary Alternative Route Segments and Land Use Constraints maps (topographic)
• Map 1 – West [PDF]
• Map 2 – Central [PDF]
• Map 3 – East [PDF]
• Open house notification maps [PDF]
• Landowner notification letter [PDF]
• Newspaper ad [PDF]

June 22, 2018 Public Open House in Fort Stockton on July 12
Representatives from LCRA TSC, AEP Texas and POWER Engineers, the routing consulting firm, will be available to answer questions and discuss specific aspects of the project. The open house will be on Thursday, July 12 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Pecos County Civic Center, 1618 Airport Drive, Fort Stockton, Texas 79735.

Preliminary alternative route segments map now available
POWER Engineers delineated the project study area and has begun data collection and constraint mapping. Click to view the alternative route segments map. (Maps with more detail will be on view at the July 12 open house.)

Project receives critical designation
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas Board recently designated this project critical to reliability. Projects designated as “critical” to the reliability of the ERCOT system are considered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on an expedited basis.