Texas Utility Barred From Challenging Agreed-to Tax Valuation

An electric utility can’t challenge the $55 million market value of its transmission lines because its predecessor agreed to the figure in an settlement with the county appraiser, a Texas appeals court ruled.

Oncor Electric Delivery Co. sued the Wilbarger County Appraisal District and Wilbarger Appraisal Review Board arguing the appraisal roll value contained a clerical error that over-calculated the length of power lines in the county for tax year 2019. The trial court allowed Oncor’s suit to proceed.

The Texas Seventh Court of Appeals reversed Tuesday, finding that an agent for Oncor’s predecessor-in-interest, Sharyland Utilities LP, ...