LCRA seeks board approval of business and capital plans; Timmerman plant energized for testing, staff urges water conservation

Lower Colorado River Authority staff on Monday asked the LCRA Board of Directors to approve the authority’s business and capital plans for the coming fiscal year while reporting summer safety preparations, an energizing milestone for the Timmerman power plant and continued emphasis on water conservation.

The presentation told directors the utility is reminding employees about heat‑safety measures — taking breaks in shaded or air‑conditioned areas, rotating job functions, using sunscreen and staying hydrated — and that supervisors “expect employees to stop work when needed” to reduce heat‑related risk. The presenter also urged customers and residents to reduce discretionary outdoor watering during the drought.

LCRA staff emphasized two operational milestones. First, teams at the Timmerman power plant in Caldwell County energized the site in March to test systems such as cooling, fuel‑oil handling and engine controls; the next testing steps are engine start‑ups and synchronization with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid, followed by commercial operation once ERCOT approves…