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• City, SWEPCO to meet about new power plant Play Video

  March 11, 2010 6:04 AM

      Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover will meet today with representatives of SWEPCO to talk about the new power plant being built so close to Central Fire Station.  The fire department says the noise from the new plant on North Common is making it hard for them to work and sleep. ... more »

• Plume near downtown is steam from power plant Play Video

  March 4, 2010 10:28 AM

  The huge plume of white vapor that has been coming from Southwestern Electric Power Co.'s new generating plant north of downtown Shreveport is due to steam testing, the utility company said.  There is no safety threat, the company said, and the Fire Department has not been activated.  The testing is... more »

• White cloud over downtown Shreveport coming from SWEPCO plant

  March 4, 2010 10:16 AM

  A thick, white cloud that looks like smoke is coming from the AEP-SWEPCO plant in downtown Shreveport. The plant is next to the Central Fire Station on Common Street. KTBS 3 News crews are there.  Stay here for updates. more »

• Thousands without power in Bossier Parish

  January 7, 2010 8:45 PM

  More than 2000 customers reported power outages this evening in Bossier Parish, according to AEP-SWEPCO. A spokesperson says a breaker had been opened, which affects feeder lines. Crews are currently working on the situation and trying to determine the cause.  It's not known when power will be restored. ... more »

• SWEPCO working to restore power in Shreveport

  December 24, 2009 1:42 PM

  Water is causing problems all over the Ark-La-Tex, but it is electricity that is causing headaches for businesses located in the area of Hollywood Avenue and Linwood Avenue.    A utlity line serving 1,500 customers is down. SWEPCO officials confirm that a crew has been dispatched to the area... more »

• Scattered damage from storms in east Texas

  December 23, 2009 5:29 PM

  Southwestern Electric Power Co. reported more than 1,500 power outages from a band of thunderstorms that moved through Harrison County, Texas, late this afternoon.  Trees were down, officials said, and there were unconfirmed reports of roof damage to one home in the county, a sheriff's deputy said.  No injuries were... more »

• Air permit recommended for Swepco plant

  December 10, 2009 10:26 AM

  An administrative hearing officer in Arkansas is recommending approval of an air permit for a coal-fired power plant being built east of Texarkana by Southwestern Electric Power Co.    The recommendation by hearing officer Michael O'Malley for a final air permit goes to the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission.... more »

• Shreveport 2nd city in nation to join Earth Aid

  December 1, 2009 11:53 AM

  Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, SWEPCO and Shreveport Green officials are announcing a rewards program for saving energy. Earth Aid allows citizens to earn free trees and get discounts at local retailers and restaurants for saving money on their electric bills. It's an online program designed to help citizens... more »

• SWEPCO raises rates for Ark customers

  November 25, 2009 12:24 PM

  Southwestern Electric Power Co. has won regulatory approval for two rate hikes for its Arkansas customers. SWEPCO said Wednesday that a base rate increase in December will raise residential bills by 5 percent, or $3.84 for a customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month. A second increase will go into... more »

• Swepco, Valley Electric merger expected to reduce rates for co-op customers Play Video

  November 20, 2009 6:43 AM

   Southwestern Electric Power Co. plans to buy Valley Electric, a utility cooperative that serves parts of northwest Louisiana -- a move that is expected to lower power bills for the co-op's customers.   Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell said Swepco has signed a letter of intent to buy Natchitoches-based... more »

• Swepco asks for $17.8 million rate increase

  November 3, 2009 9:53 AM

    Southwestern Electric Power Co. is asking the Arkansas Public Service Commission for a $17.8 million rate increase for its customers in that state.    Swepco officials said the cost-of-service increase would cost the average customer an additional $3.84 per month.    The increase comes after Swepco reached an agreement... more »

• Ark. high court to review SWEPCO plant case

  October 22, 2009 9:50 AM

  The Arkansas Supreme Court says it will review a case involving Southwestern Electric Power Company's planned coal-fired power plant in south Arkansas. The state Court of Appeals had overturned a permit that was issued by the Arkansas Public Service Commission for the $1.6 billion plant in Hempstead County. SWEPCO appealed... more »

• SWEPCO crews working on substation

  October 9, 2009 9:21 AM

  SWEPCO crews are out working to get everyone back online this morning. These workers were at the substation near Flournoy Lucas and Youree. More than 17,000 customers in East Texas have lost power in this morning's storms. In Louisiana, more than 9,000 customers are waiting for the lights to... more »

• Power out in parts of the area

  October 9, 2009 8:49 AM

  Photojournalist Michael Moore captured this shot of a rainbow over southwest Shreveport as storms were moving through the area. More than 2,000 power outages are reported in the Shreveport and Longview areas.  Several hundred are reported in and around Bossier City, Texarkana and other parts of East Texas. ... more »

• Regulators deny bid to stop Swepco power plant work

  September 25, 2009 11:58 AM

  Arkansas regulators said today they will not stop construction of Southwestern Electric Power Co.'s coal-fired power plant east of Texarkana. The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission denied a motion by environmental groups seeking to impose a stay on the $1.6 billion John W. Turk Jr. plant under construction... more »

• In the dark? Play Video

  September 6, 2009 4:40 PM

  Residents in Downtown Shreveport are without power tonight. SWEPCO began maintenance at the downtown Louisiana Substation around two this afternoon. Workers are replacing insulators and it's affecting the area from Common Street to the west, Travis Street to the north, Spring Street to the east and Cotton Street to the... more »

• Planned power outage set for part of downtown Shreveport

  September 4, 2009 2:37 PM

  Parts of Downtown Shreveport will be without power for up to six hours on Sunday afternoon, while Southwestern Electric Power Company performs maintenance at one of its downtown substations. Beginning at 2 p.m. and ending around 8 p.m. SWEPCO crews will be replacing insulators at the Louisiana Substation, located... more »

• Power outage planned for downtown Sunday

  September 3, 2009 3:56 PM

  The lights will go out in parts of downtown Shreveport this weekend. SWEPCO plans on shutting off the power from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday so crews can perform maintenance at the company's substation near Common and Caddo Streets. Police will be on hand to direct traffic.... more »

• Power outage in southwest Shreveport

  August 31, 2009 10:56 PM

  Some southwest Shreveport neighborhoods are in the dark right now. SWEPCO officials tell us a fault in a circuit at 10:22pm knocked out power to customers in the southwest region of the city. SWEPCO says their crews are investigating what caused the fault, and will fix the issue as... more »

• Power outages in the ArkLaTex

  July 28, 2009 9:42 AM

  Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) reports that about 2200 of its Caddo Parish customers are without power, as well as about 500 customers in Bossier Parish, about 350 in Harrison County, TX, and around 400 in Bowie County, TX.   Keep up with current outages by clicking here. more »

• No electricity means no AC

  July 17, 2009 2:58 PM

  Residents in the MLK area of Shreveport try to stay cool during power outages created by last night's storms. Get the latest on outages and how residents are coping tonight on KTBS 3 News. more »

• Most SWEPCO customers are back in service

  July 17, 2009 1:21 PM

  At 1:00 p.m., SWEPCO'S online website reports the following outages: Caddo Parish   2,147 Bossier Parish     523 more »

• SWEPCO: No emergency appeal for conservation Friday

  July 16, 2009 3:49 PM

  SWEPCO says there will not be a fourth appeal for conservation Friday, and there is not a need for controlled outages today. SWEPCO says building cloud cover and a cold front approaching the area negate the need for another appeal to consumers to scale back on their use of... more »

• SWEPCO emergency appeal

  July 16, 2009 10:44 AM

  For a third day in a row, SWEPCO is asking its customers to please avoid using unnecessary lighting or electric appliances - and to limit use of air conditioning - until further notice today. SWEPCO's load increased some 50 megawatts (MWs) from Tuesday to Wednesday due to the extreme... more »

• Swepco says energy-conservation requests won't be extended to Friday Play Video

  July 15, 2009 5:44 PM

  Southwestern Electric Power Co. said they will not ask customers for fourth day of conservation on Friday, saying moderating temperatures should reduce demand and the chances of "rolling blackouts" to prevent an overload of its power-transmission system. Swepco's request for reduced electricity use will end at 6 p.m. today.... more »

• SWEPCO urges conservation Play Video

  July 14, 2009 10:22 PM

  The heat is on, and thankfully so is the power, for now.  This morning, AEP SWEPCO asked all customers to voluntarily cut back on electricity.  So far it's working. Kacee Kirschvink says the extreme heat combined with a blown transformer at the Arsenol Hill Power Plant has left SWEPCO urging... more »

• SWEPCO: Efforts to conserve are working

  July 14, 2009 2:53 PM

  According to SWEPCO officials, efforts to get the public to conserve electricity are working. They say cloud cover is also helping. SWEPCO plans to issue another request for customers to voluntarily conserve again tomorrow. SWEPCO is asking customers to avoid using unnecessary lighting or electric appliances, and to... more »

• SWEPCO issues public appeal to conserve electricity

  July 14, 2009 11:02 AM

  According to SWEPCO officials, efforts to get the public to conserve electricity are working. They say cloud cover is also helping. SWEPCO plans to issue another request for customers to voluntarily conserve again tomorrow. SWEPCO is asking its customers to avoid using unnecessary lighting or electric appliances, and... more »

• SWEPCO to appeal permit rejection for coal plant Play Video

  June 29, 2009 11:59 AM

  Southwest Electric Power Co. says it will appeal a ruling that revoked its permit to build a $1.6 billion coal-fired electric generation plant in southwest Arkansas. SWEPCO said Monday it would hold an afternoon news conference Monday to discuss its plans. On Wednesday, the Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled that... more »

• Staying cool in the heat can be a challenge Play Video

  June 24, 2009 10:07 PM

  With indexes reaching 105 degrees, authorities can't stress enough the importance of staying cool.  People are doing everything they can to protect themselves, but for one woman in Caddo Parish, staying cool isn't so easy. It's been more than a week since Servlia Brown's power was cut off for non-payment. ... more »

• Arkansas court rejects power plant permit for Swepco

  June 24, 2009 10:39 AM

  An Arkansas appeals court said today that state regulators didn't adequately review plans for a coal-fired power plant east of Texarkana and has rejected a permit allowing its construction -- sending the matter back for a regulatory hearing. The Arkansas Court of Appeals ordered the Public Service Commission to... more »

• Group gets green light to fight SWEPCO rate hike

  June 17, 2009 6:20 AM

         LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- State regulators say Sierra Club and Audubon Arkansas can intervene in a rate hike case that will help fund a southwest Arkansas power plant, but denied another coalition of ratepayers they say was organized by the two groups.  The Arkansas Public Service Commission... more »

• Experts differ in Swepco air permit hearing

  June 11, 2009 11:09 AM

  Experts testifying in a hearing on the appeal of an air permit for a $1.6 billion coal-fired electric plant east of Texarkana gave conflicting testimony on the reliability of air monitoring the plant intends to use. A meteorologist testifying for Southwestern Electric Power Co. said Wednesday that using wind data... more »

• Trees down/Power out

  June 11, 2009 10:27 AM

  While crews like this one in the 100 block of Robinson in Shreveport are working to clean up downed trees in parts of the ArkLaTex, AEP-SWEPCO crews are out dealing with power outages. Currently, there are several hundred customers without electricity in East Texas and Bossier Parish and more... more »

• Hearings underway in attempt to block Ark. coal plant

  June 10, 2009 3:30 AM

      NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Opponents of a $1.6 billion coal-fired power plant in southwest Arkansas say state regulators relied on flawed data when they approved an air permit for the project.  The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality heard opening statements Tuesday in an attempt by the Hempstead... more »

• ADEQ hears openings on attempt to block coal plant

  June 9, 2009 10:02 AM

  Opponents of a $1.6 billion coal-fired power plant in southwest Arkansas say state regulators relied on flawed data when they approved an air permit for the project. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality heard opening statements Tuesday in an attempt by the Hempstead Hunting Club to have Southwestern Electric... more »

• Controversy continues over coal power plant

  June 9, 2009 5:17 AM

      NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- An administrative judge says he won't consider arguments that regulators did not properly analyze the potential carbon dioxide pollution caused by a proposed coal-fired power plant before approving an air permit.  Hearings began Monday in an appeal filed by opponents of Southwestern Electric... more »

• Appeals hearing begins over Arkansas coal power plant

  June 8, 2009 2:51 PM

  An administrative judge says he won't consider arguments that regulators did not properly analyze the potential carbon dioxide pollution caused by a proposed coal-fired power plant before approving an air permit. Hearings began Monday in an appeal filed by opponents of Southwestern Electric Power Co.'s power plant in Hempstead... more »

• Swepco says all power should be restored by end of week

  September 14, 2008 10:54 PM

  Southwestern Electric Power Co. said this morning it has reduced outages in its ArkLaTex coverage area to 65,000 homes and businesses. That is down from 100,000 Sunday, the utility said. It could be the end of the week before everyone in this area has their power restored. ... more »

• PSC moving to next phase for proposed coal-fired electric plant

  October 22, 2007 5:04 PM

  Opponents of a proposed $1.3 billion coal-fired power plant east of Texarkana today made their closing arguments before the Arkansas Public Service Commission. The PSC will also hear from Southwestern Electric Power Co. as well as the PSC staff and the state attorney general's office. The PSC staff is... more »

• PSC close to decision phase on proposed electric plant near Texarkana

  October 22, 2007 2:51 PM

  Opponents of a proposed $1.3 billion coal-fired power plant near Texarkana today made their closing arguments before the Arkansas Public Service Commission. The PSC will also hear from Southwestern Electric Power Co. as well as the PSC staff and the state attorney general's office. The PSC staff... more »

• Customer, utility differ over who should pay for damages

  September 19, 2007 6:45 PM

    We've all experienced them before -- power surges or brief outages, even when there's no bad weather in the area. But when that loss of electricity causes damage, who pays?   They're sweating it out at Tommy Williams' home in Mooringsport. Three... more »

• Power back on for about half of those blacked out by Humberto

  September 14, 2007 4:32 PM

  Utility crews have restored electricity to nearly half of the almost 120,000 southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana homes and businesses in the wake of Hurricane Humberto. More than 2,000 utility workers, including 36 from Swepco, have converged on areas where the center of Humberto made landfall on... more »

• Economist says Swepco plant would drive up costs, cut competition

  September 14, 2007 9:50 AM

  A senior economist with the Texas Public Utility Commission said Swepco's planned $1.3 billion coal-fired power plant east of Texarkana shouldn't be built because it would drive up consumer costs and cut competition. Richard Greffe's testimony about the planned 600-megawatt plant in Hempstead County comes as hearings... more »

• Opponents of Swepco plant push for alternative power sources

  August 30, 2007 12:15 PM

  Opponents of a proposed coal-fired power plant east of Texarkana told the Arkansas Public Service Commission today that wind, nuclear and natural gas are more promising power sources for the future. A hearing on the proposal is continuing today before the PSC. Hunters and some landowners in... more »

• Opponents resume efforts to stop new power plant

  August 29, 2007 11:51 AM

  Hunters and landowners near the proposed site of a Swepco power plant east of Texarkana say the utility's failure to fully consider cultural and environmental issues should doom the $1.3 billion coal-fired facility. The Arkansas Public Service Commission resumed a hearing in Little Rock today on Southwestern... more »

• Opponents of proposed power plant want PSC to halt hearing

  August 24, 2007 3:07 PM

    Opponents of a proposed $1.3 billion coal-fired power plant near Texarkana have asked state regulators to halt a hearing on whether to approve the project. A formal motion to call a halt to the action was filed today with the state Public Service Commission. ... more »