Shreveport, La. Sept. 26, 2024 –Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) recently named Melissa Gage as its new VP Regulatory Affairs and Finance. Gage takes over from Tom Brice, who will retire in December following a successful 32-year career at SWEPCO.

Gage will take the helm of the company’s regulatory and finance organization October 26. She will operate throughout SWEPCO’s service area, which encompasses Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, and she will be primarily based at AEP’s offices in Austin, TX.

“Melissa has been an integral part of every regulatory filing and proceeding at SWEPCO for many years. Her knowledge, legal experience, proactive approach and focus on building relationships will be important in our work to serve our customers,” said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO President and COO.

Gage joined American Electric Power (AEP), SWEPCO’s parent company, in 2015, primarily providing legal guidance to SWEPCO and other AEP operating companies in Texas with various proceedings at the PUCT.

Her role expanded in 2020 when she was promoted to Associate General Counsel for AEP’s western regulatory footprint which included AEP Texas, Electric Transmission Texas, Public Service Company of Oklahoma and SWEPCO. As Associate General Counsel at AEP, she led a team of in-house and external attorneys in various regulatory matters before the (PUCT), Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC), Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC), and Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC).

Before AEP, Gage worked at a law firm in Austin where she represented electric and water utilities and consumers in a wide range of regulatory matters before the PUCT, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Railroad Commission, and all levels of the Texas court system.

"Through my work with American Electric Power, I’ve had the opportunity to work with and support the SWEPCO team. I look forward to this new opportunity and remain committed to finding smart solutions that work for our customers, our states, and the company. I am eager to join the team and help share all the ways SWEPCO continues to invest to improve the plants, the poles and wires that deliver energy to so many local economies.”

Gage received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin and earned her Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Southern Methodist University.

"I’m looking forward to Melissa joining the SWEPCO leadership team,” Mattison said. “Together, we will continue enhancing our regulatory relationships and unlocking shareholder value by driving the company’s strategic priorities forward in service to our customers by delivering safe, reliable and affordable energy to our customers.”

Tom Brice will stay on through the end of the year to ensure a seamless transition.

“I appreciate Tom so much for his dedicated service to SWEPCO and our customers,” Mattison added. “He and his team have been instrumental in diversification of SWEPCO’s generation fleet and his heart for service is evident in every interaction.”