More than a dozen utilities have expressed interest in building what will be the largest utility investment in Texas history.

The nearly $5-billion project is designed to bring west Texas wind power to other parts of the state. The Public Utility Commission of Texas on July 17 approved the project to build a network of transmission lines and facilities that has been dubbed a “renewable-energy superhighway.”

The $4.93-billion project will carry up to 18,456 MW of wind energy to parts of the state where demand for power is high and expected to grow as population increases by an estimated 11 million people over the next three decades.

The commission will hold a hearing during the first week of December to determine who will build the transmission lines, says Tom Hadley, PUCT spokesman.

PUCT expects construction to be completed and the lines in service in four to five years. Then the cost of the more than 2,000 miles of power lines and related facilities will be passed on to residential customers at a rate of about $4 a month.

Dallas-based Oncor Electric Delivery Co. and five other of the state’s largest utility companies have formed a consortium to finance, build and operate nearly half of the transmission lines. Joining Oncor are Electric Transmission Texas LLC, Austin; AEP Texas Central Co., Corpus Christi; AEP Texas North Co., Abilene; the Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Service Corp., Austin; and Sharyland Utilities LP, McAllen.

Once the firms are selected, specific applications to build will be prepared, Hadley says. “We expect those to be filed at the PUC by the end of 2009,” he adds. PUCT must approve cost estimates, “then the commission will approve a certificate [of convenience and necessity]” Hadley says.