The approximately 96 mile line would extend from the existing AEP Texas Central Company North Edinburg Substation to the existing Brownsville Public Utilities Board Loma Alta Substation located near the Brownsville Ship Channel.
ETT will construct, own and operate the western half of the line, while the eastern half is scheduled to be constructed and operated by Sharyland Utilities.
ETT president Calvin Crowder said the companies have emphasized that the transmission line is needed to ensure continued reliable electric service for the Lower Rio Grande Valley, which is forecast to have continued electrical demand growth, in their joint application in July 2013.
"The need has grown since that time, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has determined this project is critical for the reliability of the ERCOT system and, specifically, the Brownsville area," Crowder added.
Sharyland president Mark Caskey said, "This project will not only improve both the reliability and stability of the grid in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, it also will provide a real engine for economic growth in communities throughout the region."
ETT and Sharyland have worked with an experienced routing consultant to perform an environmental assessment and routing analysis for the proposed transmission line after the project was endorsed by ERCOT in January 2012.
The estimated $309m project is expected to complete during the summer of 2016.
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