Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Texas regulators have approved a massive $33 billion transmission expansion — called the Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP) — without a single legislative vote. When you factor in financing, maintenance, and taxes, the lifetime cost to ratepayers could reach nearly $100 billion.
That works out to roughly $150 more on your electric bill every year.
But according to independent research from LifePowered, Texas families and small businesses may see almost no benefit from this plan. These lines move electricity — they don't generate it. Experts suggest that building gas generation closer to where demand actually exists could deliver a more reliable grid for roughly the same cost, without seizing the private property of thousands of Texas landowners.
So who does benefit? Large industrial consumers chasing corporate emissions targets, and transmission companies positioned to collect an estimated $25 billion in guaranteed equity returns.
Even more troubling: the demand forecast used to justify the West Texas portion of STEP was funded by six large oil and gas companies and based on their own voluntary ESG commitments. ERCOT commissioned its own independent study from UT Austin — which projected less than half the demand — and set it aside in favor of the industry-funded numbers.
The Texas Legislature voted on reliability upgrades in the Permian Basin. They did not vote on a statewide transmission buildout. Alternatives were never seriously studied.
This debate needs to happen before another mile of line gets approved.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.
Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.
The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.
Website: texaspolicy.com
X: twitter.com/tppf
Facebook: facebook.com/texaspolicy
Instagram: instagram.com/texaspolicy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation
Texas regulators have approved a massive $33 billion transmission expansion — called the Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP) — without a single legislative vote. When you factor in financing, maintenance, and taxes, the lifetime cost to ratepayers could reach nearly $100 billion.
That works out to roughly $150 more on your electric bill every year.
But according to independent research from LifePowered, Texas families and small businesses may see almost no benefit from this plan. These lines move electricity — they don't generate it. Experts suggest that building gas generation closer to where demand actually exists could deliver a more reliable grid for roughly the same cost, without seizing the private property of thousands of Texas landowners.
So who does benefit? Large industrial consumers chasing corporate emissions targets, and transmission companies positioned to collect an estimated $25 billion in guaranteed equity returns.
Even more troubling: the demand forecast used to justify the West Texas portion of STEP was funded by six large oil and gas companies and based on their own voluntary ESG commitments. ERCOT commissioned its own independent study from UT Austin — which projected less than half the demand — and set it aside in favor of the industry-funded numbers.
The Texas Legislature voted on reliability upgrades in the Permian Basin. They did not vote on a statewide transmission buildout. Alternatives were never seriously studied.
This debate needs to happen before another mile of line gets approved.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.
Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.
The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.
Website: texaspolicy.com
X: twitter.com/tppf
Facebook: facebook.com/texaspolicy
Instagram: instagram.com/texaspolicy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation
