THE WOODLANDS, Texas — The Public Utility Commission of Texas unanimously approved Phase I of Entergy Texas’ Texas Future Ready Resiliency Plan on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025.
According to a news release, the first phase of the company’s comprehensive resiliency plan will be implemented over a roughly three-year period and includes $137 million in strategic projects to strengthen the Southeast Texas power grid, reduce storm-related outages, and save customers millions in restoration costs over the coming decades.
Over the next 50 years, these improvements are expected to reduce outage times by an estimated 1 billion minutes, significantly cutting the time families and businesses spend in the dark after severe weather events.
“This is more than a plan—it’s a promise to our customers that we’re investing in their future,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. “The PUCT’s approval allows us to continue building a power grid that can withstand today’s challenges and adapt to tomorrow’s needs. This is how we help build a stronger foundation for our communities to thrive, even in the face of extreme weather.”
The first phase of the Texas Future Ready Resiliency Plan will focus on key infrastructure upgrades, including:
- Stronger distribution lines: Upgrading local distribution and main feeder lines to higher storm-resilient standards.
- Stronger transmission lines: Rebuilding high-voltage lines and poles to withstand hurricane-force winds.
- Undergrounding select lines: Moving overhead lines underground in targeted areas.
In addition, Entergy Texas plans to pursue funding from the Texas Energy Fund to implement additional projects at no cost to customers and explore innovative financing options like storm securitization to deliver long-term savings. The company reportedly secured $54 million in federal funding through the Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program to bolster grid reliability in Port Arthur. A portion of these funds will offset the cost of Phase I projects as well.
Entergy Texas’ holistic Southeast Texas Energy Plan (also known as STEP Ahead) is a six-step strategy that aims to add 1,600 megawatts of new generation capacity by 2028, maintain affordable rates, and meet the region’s rapidly growing energy needs with reliability and resilience at the forefront.
To learn more about STEP Ahead, visit www.entergytexasstepahead.com.
Source: Entergy Texas
