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United States. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

East Texas Electric Cooperative Submits 14-Day Water Quality Notifications to FERC

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. has submitted notifications to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding water quality exceedances at the RC Thomas Hydroelectric Project (P-12632) in Texas for the period of July 30 to August 9, 2025. The notifications were submitted in accordance with Section 3.2.4 of the Post-Startup Monitoring Plan, which requires reporting of temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) exceedance events to FERC staff and resource agencies within 24 hours. The notifications are a result of elevated summer temperatures in Lake Livingston, a regional condition beyond the project's control.

Key Takeaways:

  • The East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. submitted notifications to FERC for the period of July 30 to August 9, 2025, regarding water quality exceedances at the RC Thomas Hydroelectric Project (P-12632) in Texas.
  • The notifications were submitted in accordance with Section 3.2.4 of the Post-Startup Monitoring Plan, which requires reporting of temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) exceedance events to FERC staff and resource agencies within 24 hours.
  • The notifications reported 8 exceedance events during the period, with tailrace temperature exceeding the 31degC (87.8degF) reporting threshold in 7 of the 8 events, and spillway temperature exceeding the threshold in 3 of the 8 events.
  • No stressed or dead fish were observed during any of the exceedance events.
  • The notifications reported that DO levels remained above threshold values in most cases, with some isolated low readings at the primary stilling basin probe.
  • The project is currently operating under Phase 1 of the Post-Startup Monitoring Plan, with Phase 2 implementation pending review by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and other consulting resource agencies.
  • The project aims to submit the revised Phase 2 Plan for Commission review and approval by December 1, 2025.

Statistics:

  • 8 exceedance events reported during the period of July 30 to August 9, 2025.
  • 7 of 8 exceedance events reported tailrace temperature exceeding the 31degC (87.8degF) reporting threshold.
  • 3 of 8 exceedance events reported spillway temperature exceeding the reporting threshold.
  • No stressed or dead fish observed during any of the exceedance events.
  • DO levels remained above threshold values in most cases, with some isolated low readings at the primary stilling basin probe.

Sources:

  • East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. to FERC, via FERC's eLibrary, July 30 to August 9, 2025.
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Ordering Paragraph (B) of the January 30, 2020 Order (170 FERC P 62,064).
  • RC Thomas Hydroelectric Project (P-12632), 2025 14-Day Water Quality Notifications (via FERC's eLibrary).
  • EthosEnergy, Power Plant Services Operations and Maintenance Manager, James Deric Lee, to FERC, August 2025.

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