WHAT WE REPORTED: In May the Public Utility Commission of Texas voted to approve the Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corp.’s LHO-1 transmission line route from Leander to Round Rock, traveling down Hero Way and Ronald Reagan Boulevard to RM 1431. This differed from the recommendation of two administrative law judges and the cities of Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock and Georgetown, which preferred route COL-1. COL-1 ran along Hero Way and CR 175 before meeting RM 1431, according to utility commission, LCRA and Travis County District Clerk documents.

THE LATEST: After requests for rehearing from the city of Cedar Park, city of Leander and landowner group Burleson Ranch were denied, the city of Cedar Park and Burleson Ranch filed a joint lawsuit against the state utility commission, according to Travis County Clerk documents. The petition stated that the plaintiffs are “seeking judicial review of the final order” of the PUCT.

WHAT’S NEXT: Atmos Energy Corp. Mid Texas Division entered the lawsuit as an intervenor to provide information, according to a corporation spokesperson. The LCRA TSC entered as an intervenor to monitor court proceedings and to represent the LCRA TSC's interests, said authority spokespeople. A hearing date has not yet been set as of Jan. 15, according to the Travis County District Clerk website. Meanwhile the LCRA TSC plans to complete surveying and appraisal work necessary for right of way acquisition on the route selected by the utility commission in May, LCRA TSC spokesperson Tara Wells said.

This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of Top 10 stories to follow in 2018 here.