Power Restoration Efforts in Progress for 12,000 SWEPCO Customers

Shreveport, La. – Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) is drawing on all available resources to restore electricity to approximately 12,000 customers who were left without power due to extensive flooding and challenging geographical conditions.

Challenges in Power Restoration

According to SWEPCO officials, restoration has been challenging due to the large-scale flooding and often treacherous terrain. These conditions have necessitated the use of specialized track equipment by crews and contractors to access the affected areas. Furthermore, the company has had to coordinate with relevant authorities, including the railroad companies in the Texarkana area, to halt rail traffic and allow crews access to the local water systems for repair tasks.

The organization also reported that early damage assessments indicate several downed power lines, broken poles, and fallen trees, particularly in the Natchitoches area. These damaged infrastructures are often located in heavily wooded areas with ground fully saturated from the rains, adding additional complexity to the repair efforts.

Numbers to Note

SWEPCO revealed that at the height of the disaster, approximately 35,000 customers were without power. However, restoration efforts have been successful in bringing power back to 18,000 customers thus far. The company is optimistic that through utilizing resources not only on the ground but also in the air and on boats, power can be supplied to remote and difficult-to-reach areas safely.

Additional Crew Support

Help in this restoration mission is also coming from additional crew deployed from SWEPCO’s Fayetteville district along with its sister operating companies, AEP Texas, and Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). These extra teams are working against the clock to restore power to the affected communities as safely and quickly as possible.

Timelines for Restoration

SWEPCO, while working diligently to restore power, has made it clear that flooding creates a unique and dangerous restoration environment. This may result in longer than usual power restoration times. Even then, the company has given some tentative timelines for areas impacted by the storm.

SWEPCO estimates power will be restored to 95 percent of customers in the following areas by the times stated:

• Arkansas (Including Texarkana area) by 11.59 p.m. Wednesday
• Bossier City area, Vivian area, Plain Dealing area in Louisiana by 10 p.m. Wednesday
• Shreveport area by 10 p.m. Thursday
• Natchitoches area in Louisiana by 6 p.m. Friday
• Henderson area, Marshall area, Longview area in Texas by 11:59 p.m. Thursday

Staying Connected

Customers are encouraged to remain connected and updated about the power restoration progresses. For direct updates on the estimated restoration time at their homes or businesses, customers are advised to sign up for email or text alerts on the SWEPCO website.

The company assures its customers that all possible steps are being taken to ensure safety and prompt power restoration. It also urges customers to report any emerging issues or post images and videos on their social media platforms using the hashtag #ktbswx.