State Approves 145-Mile High-Voltage Transmission Line Through Jasper, Newton & Tyler Counties

Entergy’s $1.4 billion SETEX project could require easements on private land; Texas law outlines landowner rights.

A massive new transmission line has been approved to run through East Texas — including Jasper, Newton, Tyler, Polk, Trinity, Walker, San Jacinto, and Montgomery counties.

The project is called the Southeast Texas Area Reliability Project (SETEX). Entergy Texas will construct a single-circuit 500-kV transmission line approximately 145 miles long, connecting the new Babel Switching Station in Newton County to the new Running Bear Substation near Lake Conroe. The Public Utility Commission of Texas approved the routing on October 2, 2025.

Entergy estimates the project cost at $1.4 billion, stating that the new line will improve grid reliability, support rapidly growing population centers, and reduce the risk of outages during extreme weather.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and the line is projected to be fully energized by the end of 2029.

Study area map showing the corridor where Entergy evaluated routing options for the SETEX project.

Map Courtesy: Entergy Texas.

Entergy evaluated more than 300 possible routing segments before the PUCT selected the final route. The shaded purple area shows the geographic study corridor, including the communities of Colmesneil, Woodville, Jasper, Browndell, Burkeville, Ivanhoe, Hillister and surrounding areas.

Entergy filed four detailed routing sheets with the PUCT showing every segment ID, road crossing, airport, and land use feature.

These are excerpts from those filings.

Routing map filed with the Public Utility Commission of Texas showing multiple alternative segment paths through Polk and Tyler Counties, including the areas around Livingston, Chester, Colmesneil, and Woodville. Map Courtesy: Entergy / SETEX Area Reliability Project filing.

Routing map filed with the Public Utility Commission of Texas showing multiple segment alternatives across Jasper and Newton Counties, including areas near Browndell, Jasper city limits, and the proposed Babel Switching Station site. Map Courtesy: Entergy / SETEX Area Reliability Project filing.

Routing map filed with the Public Utility Commission of Texas showing segment alternatives connecting to the proposed Running Bear Substation near Lake Conroe, including routing options around Point Blank, Coldspring, and Willis. Map Courtesy: Entergy / SETEX Area Reliability Project filing.

Close-up routing map filed with the Public Utility Commission of Texas showing the proposed Running Bear Substation and multiple routing segment options near Willis and Lake Conroe. Map Courtesy: Entergy / SETEX Area Reliability Project filing.

Phase	Estimated Timing
Field surveys begin	Late 2025
Final engineering & materials procurement	2026
Construction	2027–2029
Line energized	End of 2029

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR LANDOWNERS

Entergy (or a right-of-way contractor acting on its behalf) may start contacting landowners located within the final selected route.

Contact does not mean property is being taken — early contact is typically to request survey access or discuss easement terms.

LANDOWNERS’ RIGHTS UNDER TEXAS LAW

According to the State of Texas Landowner’s Bill of Rights, property owners are entitled to:

• Adequate compensation if property or easement rights are acquired.

• Written notice if the company intends to condemn property.

• A certified appraisal of the property or easement before a final offer is made.

• The right to hire their own attorney and their own appraiser

• A hearing before a panel of three local landowners (special commissioners)

• The right to challenge compensation in court if they disagree.

Texas law also requires:

• A bona fide written offer before any condemnation suit can be filed.

• Disclosure of appraisal reports used to determine valuation.

Source: Texas Landowner’s Bill of Rights.

landowners-bill-of-rights-2022.pdf

Download PDF • 1.55MB

Landowners may request:

• Copies of easement terms in writing

• Whether the easement is exclusive or non-exclusive

• The width of the permanent easement

• Whether trees, barns, or fences will be removed

• Details on who will have access to the property after construction

These types of terms are addressed in the easement addendum in the Landowner's Bill of Rights.

CONTACT FOR PROJECT QUESTIONS

Entergy Texas project team:

(504) 576-3056

setex@entergy.com

East Texas Banner will continue following this project through construction and landowner contact phases.