On September 23, 2021, ETT, Sharyland Utilities and South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC) were ordered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) to complete the 345kV second circuit line from San Miguel to Palmito to meet the critical reliability needs of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region of South Texas. ETT owns 277 miles of the line; beginning 64 miles northeast of Laredo, TX to roughly 50 miles west of the Port of Brownsville, TX. The project included hot line construction of circuit addition and three new switching stations for pre-existing wind farms on the project route. The fast track project was completed in a record 32 months and placed in-service in May 2024.
