Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that more than $22 million in grants have been awarded through the Texas Energy Fund to strengthen electric reliability in northeast Texas and the Panhandle.
Infrastructure Upgrades
The funding will support infrastructure upgrades for North Plains Electric Cooperative (NPEC), including improvements to substations, transmission lines, and power restoration capabilities serving customers across several rural counties.
According to state officials, the grants will fund two resiliency projects designed to improve reliability for customers in portions of Hansford, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, and Roberts counties.
The largest project includes approximately 14 miles of new and upgraded transmission line segments along existing corridors. The work will also include installing switching equipment and modernizing aging infrastructure to improve operational flexibility and strengthen the area’s electric system.
A second project will expand the Ochiltree Interchange by bringing a spare transformer into service. Officials said the upgrade will improve overall system operations while helping meet future electricity demands.
Response from Officials
Public Utility Commission of Texas Chairman Thomas Gleeson said the projects represent an important step in modernizing the state’s electric infrastructure.
NPEC officials welcomed the funding, saying it will improve service reliability and support future growth across the cooperative’s service territory.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
