Cedar Park City Council approves Pedernales Electric Cooperative agreement, relocation of electric infrastructure

An agreement with Pedernales Electric Cooperative Inc. for the relocation of electric infrastructure conflicting with city construction was unanimously approved by Cedar Park City Council at its Aug. 25 meeting.

The infrastructure is conflicting with construction on the New Hope Drive extension project. This project will add a four-lane divided roadway with a raised median from Ronald Reagan Boulevard to Sam Bass Road.

Design on the project is now complete, and it is out for bid, Engineering Services Manager Michael Huber said.

PEC owns and manages electric facilities on existing private easements on private property within the project area, according to city documents. Sections of these private properties were acquired by the city of Cedar Park for construction on the New Hope Drive project, but the PEC still retains the rights to the private easements.

Instead of the city and the PEC obtaining private easements for the electric infrastructure, the PEC is requesting to relocate the infrastructure that conflicts with the project area, which saves time and costs, according to the city.

The agreement will also authorize a reimbursement of $375,000 to the PEC for the relocation of the electric infrastructure. The funding is available within the project’s budget, which is funded through Cedar Park’s 2015 general obligation bond funds.