Electric Transmission Texas Forms Construction Alliance for CREZ Projects

AUSTIN, Texas, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric Transmission Texas, LLC (ETT), has executed master agreements with three construction firms for transmission and infrastructure services associated with the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) projects assigned to ETT by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).  The agreements with Quanta Services Inc, MYR Group Inc. and TIC Holdings Inc. ensure ETT has significant construction resources committed to help complete its CREZ program in west Texas.

ETT, a joint venture between subsidiaries of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, will construct nearly $1.4 billion in CREZ projects by 2013. The PUCT awarded ETT the second largest share of CREZ projects throughout the state.  

These master agreements ensure that Quanta Services, MYR and TIC will have the resources available to construct a total of 450 miles of transmission lines and facilities.

Over the last several months, the PUCT has approved the required Certificates of Convenience and Necessity for ETT's CREZ projects.  Acquisition of rights-of-way from property owners will be completed over the next 18 months.

"Establishing this master agreement ensures the resources will be available to begin these important transmission projects as rights-of-way are secured," said ETT President Calvin Crowder.  "Project specific pricing and terms will be further refined as we move closer to the start of construction; however, the agreement establishes that we will have three of our industry's leading transmission construction companies committed to these projects at a time when the number of similar projects throughout the country might make resources of this caliber unavailable. All three companies have proven capabilities, a strong safety focus and a commitment to the ETT CREZ program."  

The three construction firms will work under the direction of ETT and URS Corp.  ETT contracted with URS in 2010 to serve as overall program manager for ETT's CREZ projects.  Robert Wood, URS vice president and program manager, emphasized that Quanta, MYR and TIC companies have solid reputations for these types of construction projects.  "We are very pleased that they will be joining these projects and look forward to working with all three companies," he said.  

Quanta Services Inc. (NYSE: PWR) is a leading specialized contracting services company, delivering infrastructure solutions for the electric power, natural gas and pipeline, and telecommunication industries. The company's comprehensive services include design, installation, repair and maintenance of network infrastructure nationwide. Additionally, Quanta (www.quantaservices.com) licenses point-to-point fiber optic telecommunications infrastructure in select markets and offers related design, procurement, construction and maintenance services. With operations throughout North America, Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to complete projects that are local, regional, national or international in scope.

MYR Group Inc. (Nasdaq: MYRG) is a holding company of specialty construction service providers. Through subsidiaries dating back to 1891, MYR (www.myrgroup.com) is one of the largest electrical contractors servicing the transmission and distribution sector of the electric utility industry nationwide. Customers include electric utilities, private developers, cooperatives and municipalities. MYR also provides commercial and industrial electrical contracting services to facility owners and general contractors in the Western United States. MYR's comprehensive services include turnkey construction and maintenance services for the nation's electrical infrastructure.

TIC Holdings Inc. (www.tic-inc.com) is one of the leading industrial contractors serving the electric utility industry. With more than 40,000 MW of installed capacity, TIC is consistently ranked in Engineering News-Record as one of the top industrial contractors. TIC is differentiated by its direct-hire capabilities, financial strength and diverse projects.

URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies around the world. The company offers a full range of program management; planning, design and engineering; systems engineering and technical assistance; construction and construction management; operations and maintenance; and decommissioning and closure services. URS provides services for power, infrastructure, industrial and commercial, and federal projects and programs. Headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., URS Corporation has approximately 47,000 employees in a network of offices in more than 40 countries.

ETT acquires constructs, owns and operates transmission facilities within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, primarily in and around the AEP Texas Central Company and AEP Texas North Company service territories.

AEP, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S., delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states.  AEP (www.aep.com) has extensive experience building extra-high-voltage 765-kV transmission lines and owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes 2,100 miles of 765-kV transmission lines, more than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.

MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (www.midamerican.com), based in Des Moines, Iowa, is a global provider of energy services to more than 6.9 million customers worldwide. MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company subsidiaries, PacifiCorp and MidAmerican Energy Company, own and operate more than 18,000 miles of electric transmission lines.

SOURCE Electric Transmission Texas, LLC