By Erick Holguin, Perez Law Firm, PLLC · Updated November 2, 2026 · Texas Eminent Domain Blog
Short answer: The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved the Dry Lake–Faulkner 345-kV transmission line on Route 75 in an order signed September 11, 2026 (Docket No. 59487). Oncor and Texas-New Mexico Power (TNMP) will build the roughly 24-mile double-circuit line in Reeves County, from Dry Lake Switch on FM 2119 to TNMP’s Faulkner Substation near Toyah. Completion is planned for fall 2028, so easement offers are likely in the coming months.
Dry Lake–Faulkner 345-kV line: key facts
| Utilities | Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC and Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP) |
| PUC docket | Docket No. 59487 |
| Voltage | 345 kV, double circuit, monopoles |
| Approved route | Route 75 |
| Application filed | March 24, 2026 |
| Order signed | September 11, 2026 |
| Length | About 24 miles |
| Endpoints | Dry Lake Switch (FM 2119) to TNMP Faulkner Substation (about 3.3 miles south of I-20, City of Toyah) |
| County | Reeves |
| Planned completion | Fall 2028 |
Who will contact me, Oncor or TNMP?
This is a joint project, so either utility, or a right-of-way agent working for one of them, may send the survey request and offer. Check which company is named as the grantee in the easement. That company, and anyone it can assign the easement to, will hold the rights on your land.
What happens next for landowners on Route 75?
- A request to survey, often with a right-of-entry form
- A written initial offer, with the Texas Landowner’s Bill of Rights
- A final offer at least 30 days later, with the appraisal reports relied on, and at least 14 days to respond
- If there is no agreement, a condemnation lawsuit and a hearing before three special commissioners
How is compensation calculated?
You are owed the market value of the easement strip and any loss in value to the land you keep. In the Toyah and I-20 corridor, highest and best use matters: land with frontage, rail or industrial potential may be worth more than its current ranch use suggests. A 345-kV line can also limit future pads, yards and buildings, which should be part of the damages analysis.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Dry Lake–Faulkner line run?
Entirely in Reeves County, from Dry Lake Switch on FM 2119 to TNMP’s Faulkner Substation about 3.3 miles south of I-20 near Toyah.
Is this the same as the El Capitan–Dry Lake line?
No. It is a separate project with its own docket. Both connect at Dry Lake Switch. See our guide to the El Capitan–Dry Lake line on Route 89.
Should I sign the right-of-entry form?
Read it first. Entry forms can be negotiated to cover notice, gates, livestock, damage repair and a time limit.
On Route 75? Get a free review before you sign.
Send us the offer, easement or appraisal. Call 956-782-2700. Se habla español.
Related: Power line easements in Texas · The Texas condemnation process
Sources
- PUC Interchange, Docket No. 59487
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 21
General information, not legal advice, current as of the date above. Perez Law Firm, PLLC is not affiliated with Oncor, TNMP or the PUC. Attorney advertising. Responsible attorney: Erick Holguin, Perez Law Firm, PLLC, McAllen, Texas.