Two administrative law judges submitted a recommendation to the Public Utility Commission of Texas stating that proposed power lines along Main Street should be built above ground because it is more cost efficient than burying the lines.

The recommendation, which can be viewed here, goes against the efforts of many Frisco residents, business owners and city officials to bury the power lines. One of the Frisco parties includes the Bury the Lines group, which includes representatives from the West Frisco Homeowners Coalition and the Collin County Association of Realtors.

Any party who objects to the judges' recommendation can submit a statement to the PUCT by Nov. 30. The PUCT has scheduled a public hearing Dec. 17 to consider the recommendation and any submitted objections.

The PUCT has until Jan. 15 to consider all the arguments and recommendations and decide whether to bury the power lines.

"The decision by the administrative law judges is part of the PUC process, and we continue to work with all parties on an underground proposal to the PUC," said Oscar Martinez, spokesperson for CoServ, the electricity distributor.

Individuals from the BTL group, the Frisco Chamber of Commerce and the city of Frisco have expressed disappointment with the recommendation.

“[Yesterday's] ruling is from the administrative law judge. The PUC Commissioners make the final ruling," Frisco Mayor Maher Maso said in a statement. "We continue to work with PUC staff, Brazos and CoServ on a proposal to make to the commissioners.”

Shona Huffman, Frisco Chamber of Commerce director of Governmental Affairs, said the recommendation is not the finish line.

"While we are disappointed with the decision from the [judges], we are continuing to partner with the city of Frisco, the Bury the Lines group and the other commercial property owners to work together for a proposal that is acceptable to all entities impacted by these lines," she said.

The judges argue that building overhead power lines would be cheaper and that the Frisco parties have not made a strong enough commitment to contributing to the cost of burying the lines.

The proposed underground route—which would cost more than $34 million—is estimated to cost $28 million more than the overhead routes.

Frisco officials have offered Brazos Electric, the electricity provider, a donation of the right-of-way along Main Street, which they say is valued at nearly $17.9 million. City officials have also offered coordinating construction of burying the lines with the city's road construction that would save Brazos Electric $10 million.

However, PUCT staff says Brazos Electric has the authority to use the right-of-way along Main Street with no charge.

Frank Majorie, the attorney for the BTL group, said the judges did not give the city enough credit for the right-of-way donation.

"The [judges] indicated that if there were more firm commitments from the local level that their conclusion might be different," Majorie said. "We're working to see if that can be achieved by agreement."

The Frisco parties argue that overhead power lines would reduce property values along Main Street and prevent the city from widening Main Street in the future.

The BTL group testified to the PUCT that homeowners would not receive a positive return on investment for their home should they chose to sell.

The Frisco parties also argue that future road widening on Main Street would not leave enough space for the city to install guard rails where the transmission poles are proposed to be placed.

The recommended route would place the overhead power lines along the road median, which PUCT and Brazos Electric staff says would not prevent the city from widening the roadway. The judges also state in the recommendation that city staff has not yet drawn up plans for widening Main Street.

Huffman said the Chamber and other entities are working with Brazos Electric to see if an agreement can be made that would satisfy all parties.