ERCOT Reviewing $9 Billion in Transmission Projects

ERCOT is reviewing up to $9 billion in transmission projects to maintain reliability and improve grid efficiency, ERCOT reported in an annual Electric System Constraints and Needs Report, which includes a five-year planning horizon.

The planned projects include the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) transmission additions that are planned to be in service by the end of 2013.

Aside from the CREZ transmission additions, the largest projects planned through 2015 include three new 345-kilovolt (kV) lines totaling 368 miles, including the Zorn/Clear Springs-Gilleland Creek-Hutto Switch line addition, the Zenith-Fayetteville line addition, and the Bell County East-TNP line addition.

ERCOT also issued its Long-Term System Assessment, which includes a 10-year horizon.

The conclusions in the long-term assessment include:

• While numerous transmission system upgrades will be needed due to expected load growth over the next 10 years, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas, the analysis showed few, incremental long-lead-time projects to be warranted;
• There is a potential need for new transmission import capacity into the Houston metropolitan area;
• Load growth in areas north and west of Dallas may require additional transmission infrastructure in the next 10 years