SWEPCO is actively watching the forecasted severe weather which could bring fierce winds, thunderstorms, and possible tornadoes on Sunday in our southern territory. Later next week, snow and freezing rain are forecasted for our northern region with Arctic air coverage throughout. The extreme weather may affect parts of SWEPCO’s service territory across Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas in the coming days and customers can take time now to prepare.
Just as the company has implemented a series of proactive pre-winter preparedness actions to enhance and winterize its electric infrastructure and ensure reliability during extreme cold conditions, it is encouraging customers to take time to make a plan.
SWEPCO encourages customers to be prepared for winter weather by having an emergency kit on hand and deciding now where to go if there is a power outage, particularly if they or a family member relies on uninterrupted electric service for health reasons.
"We are closely monitoring the severe cold weather and storm potential expected across our service areas in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas and our teams are vigilant about protecting our infrastructure so we may safely serve our customers," said Drew Seidel, SWEPCO vice president of Region Distribution Operations. "We urge our customers to remain aware of rapidly changing weather conditions and to take necessary precautions. Download the SWEPCO app to stay informed about power outages, receive real-time updates, and access safety tips."
SWEPCO has developed comprehensive severe and icy weather action plans, adapting to changing forecasts, and is prepared to respond to any potential service interruptions promptly and safely. Crews are ready to respond as needed.
The current forecast shows a risk for severe thunderstorms from late morning Sunday through the afternoon, across East Texas, Southern Arkansas, and North Louisiana. Damaging winds as high as 65 mph and isolated tornadoes are predicted as the main threats from the stronger storms, which could affect power lines. SWEPCO reminds customers to always treat downed lines as energized and dangerous. Please keep a safe distance of at least 35 feet from downed power lines and report any incidents at once.
Later in the week, the forecast shows a risk of freezing conditions that could impact our northern service territory. "We understand how crucial reliable electric service is for our customers, especially during extreme weather events. Our teams are actively preparing to respond to any impacts from the forecasted cold snap, ensuring that we can restore service safely and efficiently," Seidel said. "We also encourage our customers to have their own emergency plans in place."
As part of a commitment to ensuring reliable service during wintry weather, SWEPCO has a comprehensive Winter Preparedness plan that includes winterization of its generation portfolio.
“From data-driven analysis, continuous monitoring of our equipment, storm hardening and winterization of generating equipment, our power plant crews are always working around the clock to produce power for our customers,” said Monte McMahon, vice president, Generating Assets. “Crews have site specific protocols, procedures, checklists and inspections to combat cold weather impacts and ensure the safe and reliable operations across our entire generation fleet.”
Ready to make your winter-ready plan? Consider these tips:
Save Energy:
- Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature, like 68°F.
- Change your furnace filter every month
- Have your ceiling fans turn clockwise to push heat down
- Close your shades at night and open them during the day
Prepare your home:
- Drain and shut off water
- Stow hoses
- Check and clean out gutters
- Inspect the roof
- Check vents and openings
- Prune close-hanging tree branches
- Seal leaks
- Check the furnace
- Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups
- Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power
Find more energy saving ideas: SWEPCO.com/save
Want to make a winter safety kit? Get started at SWEPCO.com/stormprep
Stay Informed with SWEPCO Alerts:
- Use the SWEPCO app, available for download at SWEPCO.com/APP, via the App Store, or Google Play.
- Sign up for text and email updates, including estimated time of restoration, at SWEPCO.com/Alerts.
- Visit SWEPCO.com/OutageMap to find detailed outage information without logging into your account.
- Call 1-888-218-3919 to report your outage or hazard.
For updates and photos, see SWEPCO.com and follow SWEPCO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.