SHREVEPORT, La. (Feb. 2, 2022) – Southwestern Electric Power Co.’s company and contract crews are preparing to restore power as safely and quickly as possible as outages occur from severe winter weather. Forecasts call for freezing rain, sleet and snow for SWEPCO customers, especially in parts of Western and Southwest Arkansas and Northeast Texas, today and Thursday.

SWEPCO has almost 600 line, tree and support personnel ready to respond if needed.

Snow and ice can cause problems for the electrical system because their weight brings down power lines and makes roads hazardous for access to make repairs.

Be aware of downed power lines, which can be hidden by snow, sleet or ice. If you see a downed line, stay away and keep others away, especially children and pets. Call SWEPCO or 911.

Customer Preparations

SWEPCO urges customers to be prepared for the winter weather and the possibility of power outages.

Save Energy and Stay Warm

• Set thermostats as low as appropriate for staying healthy and comfortable.
• Turn off lights and electric appliances that you don’t need or aren’t using.
• Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible, including overhead doors on attached garages.
• Open curtains on the sunny side of the house to warm up your home. If there’s no sun, close the shades to keep warm air inside.
• Add door sweeps and weatherization strips to reduce outside air coming in.
• When the fireplace is not in use, be sure the damper is tightly closed.

Six Home Safety Tips

• Take extreme care when using a space heater. Place it at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including curtains and walls, and unplug it before you leave the room.
• Never use a stove or oven to heat your home.
• If you’re using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen. Be sure it’s large enough to catch sparks or rolling logs.
• Use portable generators correctly – never operate one inside your home, including the basement or garage. Never plug the generator into your home's main electrical panel.
• Guard against carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and that they are working properly and have fresh batteries.
• Prevent your pipes from freezing by running a constant trickle of water. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinets to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.

Home Emergency Kit

• Gather an emergency outage kit that includes:
• Flashlights and fresh batteries
• Battery-powered radios or televisions
• Candles, matches or lighters
• Water for drinking and cooking
• Portable heater, either oil or gas*
• Camping equipment like sleeping bags, camp stoves and lanterns
• Non-perishable food and a manual can opener
• Manufacturers' instructions for your generator (if you have one)
• Instructions for how to manually open your garage door
• Important over-the-counter medicines

*Caution: Some portable heaters can cause fires or other safety hazards when not used as specified by the manufacturer. Be sure to review the safety specifications of your specific model before using it during an outage.

Report Outages and Check Power Restoration Status

• Download the SWEPCO mobile app: SWEPCO.com/App.
• Sign up to get SWEPCO alerts: SWEPCO.com/Alerts.
• Follow SWEPCO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• Visit SWEPCO.com/OutageMap to find detailed information without logging into your account.
• Call 1-888-218-3919 to report your outage.

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 Company (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.