SHREVEPORT, La. (Jan. 20, 2022) – Southwestern Electric Power Co. today announced its parent company, American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), will invest $100 million to build a new transmission control center in Caddo Parish. The Shreveport Transmission Control Center (STCC) will control the operations of AEP’s transmission system in the Southwest Power Pool regional power grid and, in collaboration with the AEP Transmission Control Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, control AEP’s system in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power grid. The facility will support real-time operational technology hardware and software required to assess, monitor and control the entirety of AEP’s national transmission grid.
The STCC is the first announced tenant in Resilient Technology Park, which is under construction near Interstate 20 and Greenwood Road.
“Assessing, monitoring and controlling the transmission grid is critical to keeping the power flowing to our customers. It requires access to high-speed data networks and reliable power,” said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and CEO. “We are excited to be the first facility to break ground in Resilient Technology Park and to be able to showcase the investments that have brought fiber-optic data lines and other critical infrastructure to the area.”
The 77,000-square-foot STCC will be built to withstand severe weather and will incorporate many safety and security measures. Construction will be completed in 2023.
Resilient Technology Park will offer access to dual electric feeds from AEP’s transmission system and access to fiber-optic data connections. These utilities will be available throughout the 300-acre park.
About Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO)
SWEPCO, an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company, serves more than 543,000 customers in Northwest and Central Louisiana, Northeast Texas and the Texas Panhandle, and Western Arkansas. SWEPCO’s headquarters are in Shreveport, La. News releases and other information about SWEPCO can be found at SWEPCO.com. Connect with us at Facebook.com/SWEPCO, Twitter.com/SWEPCOnews, Instagram.com/swepco, Youtube.com/SWEPCOtv and LinkedIn.com/company/swepco.
About American Electric Power (AEP)
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is powering a cleaner, brighter energy future for its customers and communities. AEP’s approximately 16,700 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to safely deliver reliable and affordable power to 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 31,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including more than 5,900 megawatts of renewable energy. The company’s plans include growing its renewable generation portfolio to approximately 50% of total capacity by 2030. AEP is on track to achieve an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2000 levels by 2030 and has committed to achieve net zero by 2050. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Co. (in Arkansas, Louisiana, East Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com.