LCRA TSC approves three capital projects including new 138 kV substation and broadband easement amendments

The LCRA Transmission Services Corporation board on Feb. 18 approved three capital projects presented by staff.

Josh Cole described the La Sima Substation addition, a new 138‑kilovolt substation to create a point of interconnection to serve Pedernales Electric Cooperative near Ranch Road 12 west of San Marcos. The project’s recommended completion date is Dec. 31, 2026, at an estimated cost of $16,400,000.

Cole also presented the Sakset substation upgrade, a second‑phase reliability update to an existing 138‑kilovolt station in the Corpus Christi region intended to improve configuration and reliability; the project team worked to interconnect load sooner after a 2023 customer (a crypto miner) had required earlier capacity. The recommended completion date is Dec. 31, 2026, at an estimated cost of $18,800,000.

The third project is a broadband easement enhancement for FY2026 that will amend existing easements on an estimated 540 parcels across five transmission corridors to allow third‑party communication rights on optical ground wire (OPGW). Cole said portions of the project tie to Texas Broadband Development Office grant funding and that LCRA TSC must hold the easements because it currently owns them. The recommended completion date is Dec. 31, 2027, at an estimated cost of $7,500,000.

A board member moved to approve the package; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Cole told the board that projects will be funded by LCRA TSC regulated rates upon completion and, where applicable, approval by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.