Electrical Industry News for October 2025

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen announced that they will co-host the IEA’s 10th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Brussels, Belgium, on 12-13 June 2025. The Annual Global Conference brings together ministers, business pioneers, and industry representatives to drive stronger action on energy efficiency. A key focus of the conference will be the global agreement to double energy efficiency progress this...

Wasatch Electric provided electrical distribution and lighting services during the renovation of this historic office building in downtown Salt Lake City. Close cooperation between trades, diligent sequencing, and stringent safety protocol was key to the project’s success, as the building was occupied by tenants throughout the entire duration of the project. To avoid disrupting tenants, they constructed a complete electrical distribution system that paralleled the existing system while i...

New patents to integrate artificial intelligence into power grids have grown sixfold in recent years, with the United States and China leading the way in AI for smart grid development, according to a new study by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). The report, Patents for Enhanced Electricity Grids, shows how patents for electricity grid technologies have surged over the past two decades as advances in digital integration and the...

In partnership with SporTran and the City of Shreveport, SWEPCO unveiled a new look for SporTran’s newest electric bus. The vibrant red wrap enhances the visibility of public transportation in Shreveport and SWEPCO hopes it will also bring attention to how customers can find helpful resources to manage their utility bills. Also prominently displaying a QR code and URL to SWEPCO.com/billhelp, customers can log into their account and complete a short survey that will offer help and solution...

Sweden’s advanced electricity system, natural resources and geology mean the country is well placed to accelerate electrification and transform energy-intensive industries by drawing heavily on low-emissions electricity, according to the IEA’s new Sweden 2024: Energy Policy Review. However, advancing electrification will come with a sizeable increase in new electricity demand that the current system will need to accommodate. New clean electricity generation Uncertainties acro...

The EXCGLB series of gateway data loggers is suitable for energy monitoring in complex systems, for supervising power factor controllers or systems that are actuated by soft starters or by variable speed drives, for remote controlling of micro PLCs and furthermore, in versions equipped with a GPS function, in applications with generating set controllers and when geo-localization of rented machines is needed. Communications with field devices is done via RS485 serial port or Ethernet, while con...

The IEA regularly conducts reviews of the energy and climate-related policies of its member countries and provides recommendations – a process that supports energy policy development and encourages the exchange of international best practices and experiences. The latest review of the Slovak Republic took place in October 2023. The review finds that the Slovak Republic has made significant progress in reaching its climate and energy goals owing to its low-emissions electricity system, with...

IEA member governments have updated the set of principles – known as the IEA Shared Goals – that highlight the priority areas for simultaneously ensuring energy security and advancing clean energy transitions. IEA members first agreed on a set of Shared Goals in 1993. Now, over three decades later, during the Agency’s 50th anniversary year, the new set of goals builds on the 1993 version while also drawing inspiration from the joint communiques from the 2022 and 2024 IEA Minis...

The IEA and the Government of India’s Ministry of Mines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which lays out a co-operation framework on critical minerals, the essential materials that go into clean energy technologies. Practices for modeling and analysis The MoU, which defines areas of co-operation ranging from critical minerals data and statistics to the sharing of best practices for modeling and analysis, was exchanged in the presence of India’s Minist...

Southwestern Electric Power Co., (SWEPCO, a subsidiary of American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), is making way for future development at the site of the retired H.W. Pirkey Power Plant. Work continued to dismantle the stacks and boiler of the old plant to pave the way for future development at the decommissioned facility in Hallsville, Texas. H.W. Pirkey began operations on a snowy Jan. 3, 1985, serving SWEPCO customers and the Hallsville community for 38 years. The 675-megawatt plant was name...

Dozens of SWEPCO mutual-aid crew members are in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton, which reached Category 5 strength as it churns through the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to make landfall in the Tampa, Florida area as at least a Category 3 hurricane on Wednesday. SWEPCO restoration professionals are strategically positioned in Tallahassee, Florida, and Daphne, Alabama. Once Milton has passed through, they will assist Tampa Electric (TECO) with restoring power. These 69 crew members are expec...

Canyon State Electric (CSE) is partnering with Phoenix Children’s to ensure that a local family facing medical challenges does not go without electricity. The collaboration was prompted by the urgent need to maintain uninterrupted power for a young boy who is currently undergoing dialysis treatments. Issues with the power company Phoenix Children’s diagnosed him with kidney failure and began dialysis treatments The boy was only two years old when he began experiencing fatigue, na...

Over one dozen high school students are graduating this Thursday, July 25, from Canyon State Electric’s first electrical summer internship program. The event will include lunch, an awards ceremony, and an open house.    The event will be held at Canyon State Electric’s auxiliary building, 4636 E McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85008. The schedule of events is as follows:   10:00 am:  Open House  11:00 am:  Lunch  11:30 am:  Awards and...

Electrical apprentices at Canyon State Electric (CSE) are attending their first week of classes through the company’s newly opened apprenticeship program, the third of its kind in the state. Students will attend one week of classes per quarter, spending the rest of their time getting on-the-job training as commercial electricians. NCCER accreditation    The program, which received its NCCER accreditation in December, can teach up to 120 apprentices The program, which received...

Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) is lending a helping hand to their sister utility company, AEP Texas, in preparation for Beryl’s landfall on Monday. According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to intensify and make landfall along the mid-Texas coast as a hurricane on Monday. Hurricane impacts could include heavy rainfall, flooding, potential tornadoes, and damaging winds as the system moves inland across the state. SWEPCO’s service terr...

Texans may be able to get help to pay summer cooling bills until funds are depleted on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligibility is based on income for the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. To apply, visit the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to find an administering agency near you or dial 211 to discover more resources. Comprehensive Home Energy Assistance Program SWEPCO customers in Rusk, Cherokee, Gregg, Smith, and Wood co...

Canyon State Electric is welcoming Dan Bashaw to the team as Director of CSE Technologies, the company’s low-voltage and service division.  Bashaw brings over 26 years of operations, sales, and service experience in the fire and life safety industry, both in field and leadership roles for Fortune 500 companies. He has maintained a NICET level IV certification in fire alarm systems since 2010. CSE’s reputation Bashaw said his decision to join the company was influenced by CSE&...

Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Agee as the new plant manager for John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant, a 650 MW rated ultra supercritical coal-fired plant located near Fulton, Ark. Agee will report to Monte McMahon, Vice President, Generating Assets, and will be responsible for overseeing the managerial, financial, environmental, and safety performance of these facilities. Agee steps into the role following the July 1 retirement of longtime...

Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sara Vestfals as the new Plant Manager for Arsenal Hill and J. Lamar Stall in Shreveport, La., and Lieberman in Mooringsport, La. Vestfals will report to Monte McMahon, Vice President, Generating Assets, and will be responsible for overseeing the managerial, financial, environmental, and safety performance of these facilities. Vestfals' appointment is effective as of May 27, 2024. Sara’s expe...

A welcome break in the weather allowed crews to make more progress. Power was restored last night to customers in Bossier City, Louisiana, De Queen and Nashville in Arkansas and in Waskom, Texas. Latest damage estimates show many miles of damaged wire due to the relentless storms. Additionally, flooding brings extra challenges and complexities. Severely flooded work areas Safety for one another remains top of mind as crews work in dangerous conditions The work is often slow and deliberate be...

The SRPMFA164 programmable safety relay is a standalone safety device that is able to handle all safety functions in a machinery or whole system. The SRPMFA164 safety module is able to monitor and control safety circuits in applications, including: light curtains, photocells, laser scanners, emergency stops, electromechanical interlocks, access interlocks, safety magnetic switches, RFID sensors, sensing mats or edges, two-hand operation of control devices, or sustained-action approval buttons....

SWEPCO crews, in tandem with other utility professionals, worked to rebuild key infrastructure and restore power to thousands of customers in Northwest Arkansas. As of 10 a.m. Sunday, they have restored power to 91 percent of customers who can receive power in this area. The remaining customers without power are in areas hit especially hard by the Memorial Weekend storms. That line of severe weather produced at least seven tornadoes and hurricane-strength straight-line winds. SWEPCO’s pe...

SWEPCO’s ArkLaTex storm response, which included hundreds of utility professionals deployed to the hardest hit areas, was temporarily slowed by a concussive wave of storms that fired again on Saturday, downed more trees, damaged SWEPCO’s transmission system, the backbone of its energy delivery system, and created additional outages. Transmission lines bring high-voltage power from generation operations to substations, where it's "stepped down" to be used by numerous distribution net...

SWEPCO crews, in concert with other utility professionals, worked to rebuild key infrastructure and restore power to customers in Northwest Arkansas. They have made progress and this massive rebuilding effort continues to repower the remaining 3,500 customers.   For those properties that can receive power, crews estimate 95% should be restored by 10 p.m. Sunday, weather permitting. A significant milestone was reached Friday night as SWEPCO restored power to 95 percent of customers east of...

Hundreds of utility professionals continue to work safely and quickly to restore service to the nearly 4,000 customers who remain without power following multiple rounds of severe weather over the past week, which included three EF1 tornadoes in De Soto Parish, confirmed by the National Weather Service. As of noon Saturday, SWEPCO has restored power to approximately 19,000 ArkLaTex customers impacted by the most recent round of severe weather. Ongoing restoration efforts Much of the damaged i...

As a team, they’re united in efforts to help rebuild the places they call home and support the customers by getting the lights back on. Rain in the Rogers, Arkansas area has delayed restoration progress. Repairs, which include clearing hundreds of downed trees to safely access more than 750+ unique work locations, replacing approximately 400 broken utility poles, restringing more than 10 miles of electrical wire; replacing more than 100 transformers, and more, continue. Collaboration and...

Work continues after severe weather delivered another blow late Thursday to storm-weary residents of the ArkLaTex. In Texas, there is significant damage in heavily wooded and flooded areas of Henderson and Kilgore, which will require specialized track equipment to access sites for repairs. SWEPCO’s entire territory The scene is similar in central Louisiana with several inaccessible or hard-to-reach work sites, including some repairs near Toledo Bend that may need to be done from the wat...

As it is safe to do so, SWEPCO damage assessors have been deployed to begin the painstaking role of locating, identifying, and reporting damage to the energy infrastructure. In some areas, this work may not be visible to customers. SWEPCO’s entire territory With significant multi-day storms forecast for SWEPCO’s entire three-state service territory Instead, these assessors may also be patrolling lines (either by deploying on land, air, or by boat) to find the trouble to the system...

Current weather could slow restoration work as crew safety is a priority. Customers should remain weather aware as there are storms predicted throughout the week across SWEPCO’s service territory.  The latest data shows additional damage, and that number could continue to rise. SWEPCO crews remain undaunted and estimate 95% of customers who can receive power should be restored by 10 p.m. Friday. crews space to work Customers must have a licensed electrician repair damage before pow...

Emergency assessment and response is underway by SWEPCO crews after a powerful storm brought damaging winds that downed trees and toppled power lines across parts of East Texas Tuesday morning. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, approximately 14,700 customers are without power. At peak, 19,000 customers were without power. other utilities and contractors SWEPCO has requested help from other utilities and contractors to aid in the restoration effort SWEPCO has requested help from other utilities and contr...