The Lead Live Podcast: Jan. 12, 2026 episode

The Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) is moving forward with plans to construct a new natural gas-fired power plant near Columbus, a project expected to triple the utility’s net asset value.

KPUB General Manager Mike Wittler announced during a recent interview on The Lead Live that the utility received the first Texas Energy Fund loan, describing 2025 as a “historic year” for the municipally-owned entity.

The facility, located about 10 miles south of Columbus, is scheduled for a groundbreaking ceremony on April 17, with mobilization set for April. The project involves transporting massive V18 engine blocks—each weighing 540,000 pounds—which are expected to arrive at the Port of Freeport and be trucked to the site in August or September.

Wittler explained the plant is designed to provide dispatchable power, allowing KPUB to sell energy into the grid to offset the high wholesale costs paid to ERCOT, the state’s electric reliability council. This financial strategy is intended to ensure KPUB can maintain local rates among the lowest in the state.