Texas Codes

Tex. Util. Code § 181.045 (2026)

Standards For Construction, Operation, And Maintenance Of Lines

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Sec. 181.045. STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF LINES. (a) A municipal electric utility shall construct, operate, and maintain its transmission lines and distribution lines along highways and at other places in accordance with the national electrical safety code. With regard to clearances, an electric utility that is not a municipal electric utility shall construct, operate, and maintain its transmission lines and distribution lines along highways and at other places in accordance with the national electrical safety code.

(b) Regardless of Subsection (a), an electric utility shall:

(1) use single pole construction for a line along a highway or county road;

(2) construct a transmission line that crosses a highway or road so that the line is at least 22 feet above the surface of the traffic lane; and

(3) construct a line that is above a railroad track or railroad siding so that the line is at least 22 feet above the surface of the track or siding.

(c) Subsection (a) does not apply to a line in a municipality to the extent an ordinance or regulation applying in the municipality provides differently than the national electrical safety code.

(d) In this section, "national electrical safety code" means the National Electrical Safety Code, as published in March 1948 by the National Bureau of Standards, Handbook 30, as revised by Handbook 81, published by the National Bureau of Standards in November 1961.

Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 77 (S.B. 349), Sec. 2, eff. May 18, 2013.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2002–2021 · leading case: Marcus Cable Assocs., L.P. v. Krohn, 90 S.W.3d 697 (Tex. 2002).
Marcus Cable Assocs., L.P. v. Krohn, 90 S.W.3d 697 (Tex. 2002). · cites it 2× “[15] Tex. Util.Code § 181.045. [16] Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas and Texas Forestry Association.”
Traxler v. Entergy Gulf States, Inc., 376 S.W.3d 742 (Tex. 2012). “Tex. Util. Code § 181.045 (emphasis added).”
Denton Cnty. Elec. Coop., Inc. v. Nicole Hackett, 368 S.W.3d 765 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2012). · cites it 2× “Laws 947 , 1018 (current version at Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 181.045 ); Tri-Cnty.”
Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v. Traxler, 320 S.W.3d 553 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2010). · cites it 9× “” See Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 181.045 (Vernon 2007).”
Brandon Antony Rogers v. State, No. 03-08-00590-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 12, 2008). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 181.045 (b)(2) (West 2007) (requiring utility to “construct a transmission line that crosses a highway or road so that the line is at least 22 feet above the surface of the traffic lane”).”
AEP Texas North Co. v. SPA Pipe, Inc., No. 03-06-00122-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 12, 2008). · cites it 4× “See Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 181.045 (b)(2) (West 2007) (requiring utility to "construct a transmission line that crosses a highway or road so that the line is at least 22 feet above the surface of the traffic lane").”
Cude v. AEP Texas Inc., No. 2:19-cv-00388 (S.D. Tex. Mar. 1, 2021). “, TEX. UTIL. CODE § 181.045(a) (“A municipal electric utility shall construct, operate, and maintain its transmission lines and distribution lines along highways and at other places in accordance with the national electrical safety code.”
Denton Cnty. Elec. Coop., Inc. v. Nicole Hackett, No. 02-09-00425-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth May 10, 2012). “Laws 947 , 1018 (current version at Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 181.045 ); Tri-Cnty.”
Enbridge Pipelines (East Texas) L.P. v. Saratoga Timber Co., No. 13-14-00381-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Jan. 15, 2015). “TEX. UTIL.CODE § 181.045. this case “will significantly affect the future of the cable and telecommunications industries in Texas,” Two amici curiae in support of the Krohns' po- especially in rural areas.”
Tex. Util. Code § 181.045(a): 1 case
Cude v. AEP Texas Inc., No. 2:19-cv-00388 (S.D. Tex. Mar. 1, 2021). “, TEX. UTIL. CODE § 181.045(a) (“A municipal electric utility shall construct, operate, and maintain its transmission lines and distribution lines along highways and at other places in accordance with the national electrical safety code.”
Tex. Util. Code § 181.045(b): 1 case
Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v. Traxler, 320 S.W.3d 553 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2010). “” See Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 181.045 (Vernon 2007).”
Tex. Util. Code § 181.045(b)(2): 1 case
Entergy Gulf States, Inc. v. Traxler, 320 S.W.3d 553 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2010). “” See Tex. Util. Code Ann. § 181.045 (Vernon 2007).”
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