Council denies special permit for Oncor

LUFKIN — Lufkin residents spoke out at Tuesday night’s city council meeting, successfully blocking a proposed replacement electric substation from being built near their neighborhoods.

Following more than an hour of public comment, the Lufkin City Council voted 6–1 to deny a special permit that would have allowed Oncor to build a replacement substation on Brentwood Drive, adjacent to the existing facility. The site is near apartment complexes, Anderson Elementary School and the Crown Colony neighborhood.

Lufkin Fire Chief Scott Moody told council members the proposed substation would not pose a safety risk, noting it would use mineral oil for cooling instead of traditional fluids.

Oncor representatives argued the replacement is necessary to keep up with Lufkin’s growth. Attorney Jaren Taylor said the existing substation is expected to reach 117% of its capacity by this summer, limiting the system’s ability to provide backup power during peak demand.

In a statement to our news partner KETK, Oncor said it values community feedback but believes the project is critical.

“Oncor values the feedback of local residents and we have strived to answer questions and explain the importance of replacing the aging substation. Replacing the current substation, which has safely served this area since the 1960s, with a new, modernized substation is essential for meeting local growth needs and continuing to reliably serve our Lufkin customers. While we appreciate the Lufkin City Council’s consideration, we will now begin the process of appealing the council’s decision to the Public Utility Commission of Texas.”

The appeal could still allow the substation to move forward at the state level.