LCRA TSC approves six transmission capital projects including new 4‑story office building
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Summary
The board approved six capital projects — storm hardening of the Big Hill–Kendall line, a new 4‑story 56,856 sq. ft. Building J at the Dash L Service Center, a telecom upgrade, fiber upgrade, and two property acquisitions — with combined estimated costs totaling about $97.6 million.
The LCRA Transmission Services Corporation board on Dec. 9 approved six capital improvement projects intended to strengthen transmission reliability and expand facilities, including a new four-story office building at the Dash L Service Center and multiple property acquisitions.
Speaker 3, who presented the items, described the projects individually. The board approved a storm-hardening project for the 139-mile Big Hill–Kendall 345 kV transmission line across multiple counties to replace static-peak structural parts and damaged equipment; the presenter gave a recommended completion date of Jan. 15, 2028 and an estimated cost of $34,700,000. The board also approved a four-story, 56,856-square-foot multiuse office building (Building J) at the Dash L campus near Travis County, which the presenter said will accommodate approximately 185 staff and include a coordination center for transmission emergency response. The presenter stated a target groundbreaking in March and an expected completion in 2027 and gave an estimated cost for that discussed project as $33,900,000.
Other approved projects include a telecommunications upgrade across 107 sites to replace routers, Ethernet adapters and software ($1,900,000), a 5.9-mile optical ground wire (OPGW) upgrade between Piney Creek and Plum substations to increase fiber capacity ($5,000,000), and property acquisitions for an aviation substation near the Georgetown Airport (12.8 acres, $8,700,000) and expansion of the Euclid Substation northwest of Lockhart (about 122 acres, $13,400,000). In total the presenter’s estimated costs for the six projects sum to approximately $97,600,000.
Board members asked questions about office counts, occupancy and expansion plans for Building J; the presenter said roughly 80–100 open offices were expected initially and that all but 23 offices had been allocated, and explained a design that allows doubling the building footprint on the north side to add capacity in the future. The presenter also noted that TSE-regulated rates will fund these projects subject to each project’s completion and consideration by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
After discussion the board moved, seconded, and approved the capital projects in a voice vote. The meeting record shows the motion passed; no roll-call tally was included in the transcript.
The board concluded there was no need for an executive session and adjourned at 1:28 p.m.