CPS Energy to invest $150 M in transmission lines in Texas
At ERCOT's request, CPS is spending $150 M to speed up new transmission lines.
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USA, Texas: CPS Energy is investing an additional $150 M to accelerate the construction of transmission lines crucial for Texas’ grid reliability. The project, totaling $585 M, is being fast-tracked at the request of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to reduce the risk of blackouts.
The new transmission lines will span 58 miles, starting at CPS’s J.K. Spruce power plant and running through South Texas. The expedited work is expected to complete by December 2026, a significant reduction from the original 2029 timeline. The project will alleviate pressure on a congested circuit around San Antonio, which nearly failed in September 2023, threatening grid stability.
To complete the job safely while keeping the lines energized, CPS enlisted Quanta Services, the only company capable of performing the work under these conditions. Most of the $150 M cost will be reimbursed by utility customers statewide, with CPS covering 7 % of the total transmission costs.
ERCOT’s ongoing push to enhance grid capacity aims to phase out reliance on aging gas plants like the Braunig Power Station and prevent the need for temporary mobile generators. This $100 M mobile generator plan is also funded by Texas ratepayers.
Source: San Antonio Express-News
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