By Erick Holguin, Perez Law Firm, PLLC · Updated November 2, 2026 · Texas Eminent Domain Blog
Short answer: The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved Oncor’s El Capitan–Dry Lake 345-kV transmission line on Route 89 at its August 20, 2026 open meeting (Docket No. 59353). The double-circuit line runs about 25 miles through Culberson and Reeves Counties on steel monopoles. If your land is on Route 89, expect Oncor to ask for survey access and then make an easement offer. Have the easement terms reviewed, not just the price.
El Capitan–Dry Lake 345-kV line: key facts
| Utility | Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC |
| PUC docket | Docket No. 59353 |
| Voltage | 345 kV, double circuit, steel monopoles |
| Approved route | Route 89 |
| Application filed | February 26, 2026 |
| Final order | August 20, 2026 open meeting |
| Length | About 25 miles |
| Endpoints | El Capitan Switch (Culberson County, about 5.6 miles northwest of Seven L Rd and Rustler Springs Rd) to Dry Lake Switch (south side of FM 2119, Reeves County) |
| Counties | Culberson and Reeves |
Why is Oncor building this line?
Demand from oil and gas production in the Delaware Basin keeps growing. The El Capitan–Dry Lake line ties into the new Dry Lake Switch on FM 2119, which also connects to the Dry Lake–Faulkner 345-kV line and sits near the western end of the Longshore–Drill Hole 765-kV line. Some Reeves and Culberson County owners may be contacted about more than one of these projects.
What happens next for landowners on Route 89?
- 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 Oncor relied on, and at least 14 days to respond
- If there is no agreement, a condemnation lawsuit and a hearing before three special commissioners
What can you negotiate in a 345-kV easement?
- Width and location of the easement and each monopole
- Access roads and gates, and who maintains them
- Restrictions on fences, buildings, wells, pipelines and future development under the line
- Damages to the land you keep, plus crop, livestock and construction damage
- Assignment and abandonment terms, and whether the easement is limited to one line
Frequently asked questions
Which counties does the El Capitan–Dry Lake line cross?
Culberson and Reeves Counties.
Do I have to accept Oncor’s first offer?
No. Texas law requires an initial offer and a final offer, and you can negotiate both the price and the easement terms. If you cannot agree, special commissioners decide compensation, and either side can object and go to court.
Can Oncor take more than one easement across my land?
Yes. Several Oncor projects meet at Dry Lake Switch. Each project needs its own easement and its own offer, so review each one separately.
On Route 89? 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. 59353
- 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 or the PUC. Attorney advertising. Responsible attorney: Erick Holguin, Perez Law Firm, PLLC, McAllen, Texas.