Latest news with #PUCT
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Constellation‘s Calpine Deal Clears Texas Regulatory Review
BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Constellation (Nasdaq: CEG) today announced it has received regulatory approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) for its previously announced acquisition of Calpine Corporation. The approval is progress in Constellation's plans to combine the nation's largest zero-emissions nuclear fleet with Calpine's premier portfolio of low-emission natural gas and geothermal assets, resulting in a coast-to-coast energy company capable of supporting growing demand for around-the-clock, sustainable power. 'With this approval from the Texas PUC, we're one step closer to creating the nation's premier platform for reliable, clean energy, powering families and businesses across America,' said Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation. 'This combination strengthens our ability to serve the growing needs of our customers and communities – especially in high-demand markets like Texas – while continuing to lead the nation's transition toward a more reliable, secure and clean energy future. Most important, we're combining two strong teams with a shared commitment to operational excellence, sustainability and supporting healthy, clean and growing communities.' With approval from the PUCT secured, the transaction now awaits clearance from the New York State Public Service Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Justice, along with other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. About Constellation Constellation Energy Corporation (Nasdaq: CEG), a Fortune 200 company headquartered in Baltimore, is the nation's largest producer of reliable, emissions-free energy and a leading energy supplier to businesses, homes and public sector customers nationwide, including three-fourths of Fortune 100 companies. With annual output that is nearly 90% carbon-free, our hydro, wind and solar facilities paired with the nation's largest nuclear fleet have the generating capacity to power the equivalent of 16 million homes, providing about 10% of the nation's clean energy. We are committed to investing in innovative technologies to drive the transition to a reliable, sustainable and secure energy future. Follow Constellation on LinkedIn and X.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oncor hosts Sweetwater open house on transmission line issues
SWEETWATER, Texas () – Hundreds of residents from the Big Country gathered in Sweetwater on Tuesday for the second of three open house events hosted by Oncor. The purpose of these events is to address questions and assess community concerns regarding a proposed large-scale transmission line that is planned for construction across an eight-county area of the state. While multiple routes for the transmission line have been proposed, one option would pass directly through the heart of the Big Country. This project dates back to 2023, when Governor Abbott signed Texas House Bill 5066. The bill was designed to address the state's increasing energy demands, with a specific focus on expanding the reliable transmission of electricity to areas expected to require more power in the coming years. HB 5066 requires the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to develop a 'Reliability Plan for regions experiencing rapid electrical load growth.' The bill specifically identifies the Permian Basin as one of the areas that needs such a reliability plan. ERCOT submitted the plan for the Permian Basin on July 25, 2024, and it was subsequently approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). MAP: Large transmission line could cut through Big Country, public meetings taking place This project is larger than those previously seen in the state, and PUCT calls its approval a 'landmark decision'. 'It would see the 'Dinosaur' switch near Glen Rose connected to the 'Longshore' switch just west of Forsan through the use of 'extra high voltage' transmission lines. It would be the first of its kind to be built in the ERCOT region. According to Oncor, the 765 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines would run approximately 235-270 miles long, depending on the route chosen. In response to the question of why extra high-voltage lines are used over others, PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson stated in a news release on April 24, 'Extra high-voltage lines are more efficient and strengthen reliability. Because each line can carry more power, fewer lines are necessary to serve the needs of the Permian Basin Region, meaning less disruption to Texas landowners, natural habitats, and landscapes. Our priority now is ensuring utilities execute these projects quickly and at the lowest possible cost to Texas consumers.' Although the use of larger capacity power lines would take up less overall space, residents like Randyll and Gail Baker of Tuscola, whose home is located on property that a potential line would pass through, strongly oppose the construction of such large towers in their neighborhood. 'The people that moved out to Tuscola area wanted it for that good family living. To have that size of a tower come through a neighborhood, that's a concern,' said Gail. 'It would definitely be, in our view. I built our house facing the northeast for the view of Cedar Gap, and it's gonna go right through there,' Randyll added. The Bakers shared their concerns with many online. Some residents of Buffalo Gap have organized to oppose the route, which would affect the area's natural beauty. 'It's not gonna be a single little line. It'll be a row of towers and clearing out a lot of land. And Buffalo Gap's a beautiful area, so it would be a shame if they routed it through some of the prettier areas,' said Tuscola resident Mark Burkett. But concerns aren't purely visual. Both the Bakers and Burkett voice displeasure with the potential impact on their property value if the line is constructed along the Buffalo Gap route. 'Our big concerns are: how is that gonna impact the value of our property? I assume there will be compensation, but I also doubt the compensation would compensate you adequately for the loss of value,' Burkett said KTAB/KRBC discussed these concerns with Oncor Senior Media Relations Specialist Roxana Rubio, who says PUCT will consider them all. The purpose of the open house events is to gather community input to guide PUCT's decision. 'We really appreciate hearing from our customers… Any time that we build a new transmission, a new transmission line, no matter the voltage, we follow a very thorough process. Part of that process is to make sure that we're engaging with the local communities,' said Rubio. At the Sweetwater event, residents not only had their questions answered but also filled out forms to detail their concerns and express their feelings about the proposed routes. 'So that information will be submitted to the PUCT, and the potential routes will ultimately be submitted to the PUCT, who will have their own community input before determining which route we should begin construction on,' Rubio said. The next Oncor open house is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4. It will be held in Stephenville at the Cross Timbers Legacy Center, 830 S. Graham Avenue, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The event is open to the public. The Oncor website has more information on the 'Dinosaur-Longshore' project and downloadable forms for public participation and outreach. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PUCT now accepting applications for Texas Energy Fund Outside ERCOT grant program
May 28—AUSTIN — The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) on Wednesday began accepting applications for the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) Outside ERCOT Grant Program. The Outside ERCOT Grant Program provides funding for transmission and distribution infrastructure or electric generating facilities in Texas outside of the ERCOT power region. Qualifying projects must address the modernization of infrastructure, weatherization, reliability and resiliency enhancements, or vegetation management. Applicants must complete and submit an application on the TEF Portal and file a separate submission statement on the PUCT Interchange under Project No. 57830. Information on the application process, project eligibility requirements, and additional resources for applicants can be found on the TEF Online website and in PUCT rule 16 TAC §25.512. The Outside ERCOT Grant Program is one of four TEF programs in the Powering Texas Forward Act. Texans voted to create the TEF through a constitutional election on November 7, 2023. The TEF provides grants and loans to finance the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric facilities in Texas inside and outside of the ERCOT power region. Additional information about the TEF and the Outside ERCOT Grant Program is available on the PUCT website.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Senate confirms appointments of Thomas Gleeson and Courtney Hjaltman to PUCT
May 21—AUSTIN — The Texas Senate May 21 unanimously confirmed the appointments of Thomas Gleeson as chairman and Courtney Hjaltman as commissioner of the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Governor Greg Abbott appointed Gleeson chairman in Jan. 2023, and Hjaltman commissioner in June 2024. "Serving as the Chairman of the PUCT has been the highest honor of my professional life, and I thank Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, and the members of the Texas Senate for their confidence in my ability to lead this agency through a transformative time for electricity and water utilities in Texas," Gleeson said. "I look forward to continuing to work with our incredible PUCT team and will approach each day with an unwavering commitment to our mission: protect consumers, foster competition, and promote high quality infrastructure." Gleeson has worked at the PUCT for sixteen years in a variety of roles, including executive director, chief operating officer, and director of finance and administration. He also worked as a legislative analyst for the Texas Senate and a budget analyst for the Legislative Budget Board. Gleeson is the former chairman of the City of Pflugerville Finance and Budget Committee and the First United Methodist Church of Round Rock Finance Committee. Gleeson is a graduate of the Governor's Executive Development Program at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Southwestern University and a Master of Public Administration from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. He and his wife, Elisa, are raising their three sons in Pflugerville, Texas. Hjaltman has served on the Commission since her nomination in June 2024. "I want to thank Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, and the Texas Senate for this opportunity to continue to serve the State of Texas," Hjaltman said. "It's an honor to work alongside my fellow commissioners and with PUCT staff to ensure Texans have reliable and affordable utilities. I'm incredibly proud of the work we've done so far, and I look forward to building upon our successes." Prior to joining the Commission, Hjaltman served as the chief executive and public counsel for the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) where she led the agency's representation of residential and small commercial customers in proceedings before the PUCT and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). She is an expert in the electric, water, and telecommunication industries and has worked for the state in a variety of roles throughout her career. Prior to her appointment at OPUC, Hjaltman was deputy legislative director for Governor Abbott, working with members of the Texas Legislature and other stakeholders on various policy issues, which in the 87th Legislative Session included landmark legislation to improve the reliability of the ERCOT grid and institute first-ever weatherization requirements for ERCOT generation resources. Hjaltman has also worked in both the Texas Senate and Texas House for members on the Senate and House Natural Resources Committees, Senate Select Committee on Water Policy, and House State Affairs Committee. Hjaltman graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Communications and a Bachelor of Arts in Government. She earned her Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PUCT approves plan for the first extra high voltage transmission lines in ERCOT region
Apr. 24—AUSTIN — In a landmark decision, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) on Thursday approved a plan to build the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region's first extra high voltage transmission lines to meet the Permian Basin's rapidly growing power needs. "The PUCT is fully committed to building an ERCOT grid that will serve Texans reliably for decades to come," PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson said in a news release. "Extra high voltage lines are more efficient and strengthen reliability. Because each line can carry more power, fewer lines are necessary to serve the needs of the Permian Basin Region, meaning less disruption to Texas landowners, natural habitats, and landscapes. Our priority now is ensuring utilities execute these projects quickly and at the lowest possible cost to Texas consumers." House Bill 5066, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2023 and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, required the PUCT to approve an electric reliability plan for the Permian Basin region to support the on-going expansion and electrification of Texas' oil and gas industry and the growing electricity needs of West Texas communities. That plan was approved in Oct. 2024. The next step was determining whether to build it out with new, more efficient extra high voltage (765 kilovolts) transmission lines or the standard 345-kilovolt transmission lines currently in use throughout the ERCOT grid. The Permian Basin reliability plan is the first step in a broader effort mandated by the Legislature and Abbott to evaluate transmission and distribution systems across the ERCOT grid and identify where improvements are needed to support the state's rapid growth and ensure long-term electric reliability. The PUCT's approval of the Permian Basin reliability plan follows a full analysis of the costs, equipment supply chains, and project completion timelines of both voltage options. Additionally, the PUCT and ERCOT hosted six workshops to gather input from members of the public, equipment manufacturers, and the transmission service providers (TSP) who will build and operate the new lines. ERCOT and the TSPs estimate the extra high voltage plan could cost 22% more than the lower-voltage alternative; however, it will provide many long-term benefits. Higher voltage lines can carry more power and meet higher levels of demand as the state continues to grow, reduce expensive congestion on existing transmission lines, and could save money in the long-term by avoiding the need to build new transmission lines to catch up to future demand.
