Great American Eclipse

SWEPCO's Guide to the Great American Eclipse 2024

A very special celestial event will travel across SWEPCO territory April 8, 2024: The Great American Eclipse. Every part of our service area will experience at least a partial eclipse, however many of our customers will experience totality. That means the sun will be completely blocked out by the moon for more than four minutes in some areas. This won't happen again in the United States until August 23, 2044!

SWEPCO is celebrating the eclipse and the days leading up to it with a series of community events and partnerships.

Join the Fun at SWEPCO-Sponsored Solarbrations

SWEPCO is celebrating the eclipse by participating in community events and partnerships.

Want to learn more about the eclipse? Check out our Great American Eclipse educational video, created in partnership with De Queen High School student journalists from southwest Arkansas and our AEP meteorology team.

Ready to make your own eclipse memories? Join SWEPCO at the Sevierly Dark Fest in De Queen, Ark., on Saturday, April 6 and during the Texarkana Solarbration on the Arkansas/Texas state line on Monday, April 8.

During these events, SWEPCO will distribute our 'Pinhole Projectors,' offering a safe way to view the eclipse without looking at the sun. You'll also get a chance to take a "Solar Selfie" with SWEPCO's own Louie the Lightning Bug.

Pinhole Projector

There's a fun, easy and safe way to watch the solar eclipse that doesn't involve looking toward the sun. Download and print SWEPCO's DIY Pinhole Projector, which allows you to view the solar eclipse using the sun's rays and a piece of paper to cast a shadow. Remember, do not use the projectors to look directly at the sun.

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DIY Pinhole Projector Download and print for a unique solar eclipse viewing experience.

Download projector

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Staying Safe on the Road

Caution: extremely heavy traffic is expected throughout our service territory due to a potential surge in visitors during the event, which could result in an increase in vehicle accidents. Vehicle accidents are a leading cause of power outages across SWEPCO's service territory and often take longer to repair depending on how much equipment is affected. We always encourage safe driving every day so you can reach your destination safely.

What You Can Do to Prepare & Safely Enjoy the Eclipse

The safety of our customers and employees is our priority. The U.S. Department of Transportation shared important safety tips about planning, traveling, parking and safely viewing the eclipse. Here are a few important reminders from SWEPCO:

• When looking for areas to view the eclipse, be sure to stay away from electric equipment. This includes not parking near substations, utility poles, pad-mounted transformers, transmission rights-of-way and all other electrical infrastructure.
• Revisit your emergency preparedness plan. Contact family, friends and neighbors who are elderly or have a medical condition. (Don't forget to include pets in your planning, too.)
• Assemble or update your emergency kit.
• Fully charge your cell phone and fill up your gas tank.

Customers with life-supporting medical equipment should have a backup power source and an alternate plan in the event of a power outage.