Electrical Industry News for September 2025

LOVATO Electric expands its range of surge protection devices with the new type SG13PA…RUL cULus certified, designed for the North American market Among the new offerings are the SA1F34A275R surge protection devices with an integrated fuse and 'no leakage current' feature, combining the performance of both Type 1 and Type 2 surge protection devices in a single product. Additionally, LOVATO Electric introduces new SASD surge protection devices for data lines, Type C2-D1, suitable for pro...

SWEPCO and Northsong Wild Bird Rehabilitation (NWBR) are excited to announce the release of a rehabilitated Cooper’s Hawk at Eagle Watch Nature Trail on Friday, November 22, at 4:30 p.m. The event is open to the public. “We are honored to host the release of this remarkable Cooper's Hawk at our Eagle Watch Nature Trail,” said Scott Carney, Flint Creek Power Plant’s Environmental Consultant, adding “We appreciate NWBR’s service to the care and rehabilitat...

LOVATO Electric expands the range of accessories for interface protection system units (IP) with the new backup power supply type PMVFUPS02. CEI 0-21 and CEI 0-16 standards, which regulate the connection of co-generation systems, require an auxiliary power supply to feed the interface protection (IP), the interface switch (IS) and the backup switch for at least 5 seconds in the event of a power failure. PMVFUPS02 guarantees the necessary energy by accumulating it in capacitors, thus avoiding t...

LOVATO Electric expands its range of switch disconnectors completed with fuse holders by introducing the new switch disconnectors type GEF, available in both three-pole and four-pole versions, with rated currents from 50 to 250 A AC23A. The GEF range includes versions with fuse holders type NFC from 50 to 125 A, and versions with fuse holder type NH from 63 to 250 A, complementing the existing GE…N/NT4 series, which covers higher ratings from 400 to 800 A. Compact and modular design T...

Whether it’s a payment plan, a payment extension, or average monthly payments, SWEPCO is committed to supporting its customers during the winter months. Eligible customers in Louisiana can apply for assistance to pay their winter heating bills through the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).   Applications for winter heating assistance will be accepted from November 15 to March 15, or until funds are depleted.   Challenges with heating...

LOVATO Electric proudly announces the start of construction work on a new, modern building at its headquarters in Gorle (BG). A €14 million investment marks a milestone in the growth of the company and its production capacity. The new building will cover an area of 4800 square meters and will house two strategic departments for the company: tooling, where molds are made, and molding, where plastic components are manufactured. Major investments The new facility will be equipped with sta...

On Saturday, inaccurate reports circulated indicating that workers were trapped at a SWEPCO power plant. They want to clarify that this information is not factual — no employee or crew member was ‘trapped.’ The situation involved crews assembling scaffolding-type equipment within a furnace that was offline for routine maintenance repairs. use of additional equipment During this process, a portion of the scaffolding became jammed, necessitating the use of additional equipment...

LOVATO Electric expands its range of safety devices with the new contactors type BFS, designed to meet the requirements of ISO 13849-1 (Safety of machinery – Safety-related parts of control systems) and IEC/EN 62061 (Safety of machinery – Functional safety of safety-related control systems). The range is composed of three-pole contactors with rated motor current from 9 to 38A AC-3 400V, available in variants with coil voltage at choice between 24VAC, 110VAC, 230VAC, and 24VDC. The s...

Residents living near Arkansas High School should expect temporary lane closures and intermittent power outages from October 28 to 29 as Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) crews place new wires on recently-installed transmission poles.  The work is part of SWEPCO’s Ashdown - 12th Street Transmission Line Rebuild Project, which began in the spring. The project involves rebuilding approximately 19 miles of transmission line in Miller and Little River counties to improve regio...

On October 1st, LOVATO Electric held its Supplier Day, an important meeting between the company and its Italian suppliers. The event, with the participation of over 100 supplier companies, highlighted the strategic importance of the supply chain, emphasizing progress and future challenges, especially in terms of sustainability and digitalization. With over 100 years of history, LOVATO Electric continues to innovate and grow, as demonstrated by the expansion of its product portfolio, which now i...

Southwestern Electric Power Company announced that Lisa Porterfield Thompson has been named Manager of External Affairs for Arkansas. She will serve southwest Arkansas and northeast Texas regions. She begins Sept. 30. In her new role, Thompson will work with local communities and collaborate with stakeholders on issues concerning local economic development, government, business, education, emergency service coordination and other community needs. Prior roles of Lisa Thompson Before joining SW...

LOVATO Electric enriches the range of pushbutton and selectors Platinum series with the new double contact elements and auto-monitoring contact elements. The double contact elements provide the flexibility of two contacts (1NO+1NC, 2NO or 2NC) within the same dimensions as a single contact (LPXC10 or LPXC01). These elements are specifically designed for applications where space constraints behind the panel preclude the installation of multiple rows of contacts. Auto–monitoring contact...

Eligible SWEPCO customers in Arkansas and Louisiana can get help to pay summer cooling bills through funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) until September 30 or until funds are depleted.  The funds are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Customers in Texas can apply year-round or until funds are depleted. Eligibility is based on income for the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Great help to customers To apply, find an administeri...

SWEPCO increasingly hears about customers who have been approached by someone claiming to be a SWEPCO partner and asking if they'd be interested in solar panels for their home. “It’s important for our customers to know SWEPCO does not sell solar panels and is not partnered with any companies that do,” said William Bradford, Jr., SWEPCO’s Vice President of External Affairs. Reduce environmental footprint Solar panels can be an option for customers looking to reduce thei...

SWEPCO is increasingly hearing from customers who have been contacted by someone claiming to be a SWEPCO partner and asking if they would be interested in solar panels for their home. "It's important for our customers to know that SWEPCO does not sell solar panels and is not associated with any company that does," said William Bradford, Jr., SWEPCO's Vice President of External Affairs. Reduce environmental footprint Solar panels can be an option for customers looking to reduce their environme...

The ArkLaTex faced a significant weather event on Monday, July 8, as Beryl, a Category 1 hurricane, struck the Texas coast and moved through the region. The National Weather Service office in Shreveport confirmed late Thursday evening that at least 29 tornadoes had occurred, prompting an unprecedented 67 warnings in a single day and setting a record. Rebuild power delivery systems Work continues in the ArkLaTex to rebuild from the storm that unleashed extreme weather In response, more than 9...

Restoration work is ongoing in the ArklaTex region after Beryl caused widespread damage. SWEPCO crews, in partnership with other utility professionals, are working to rebuild key infrastructure and restore power to the remaining customers without service. Damage assessment shows multiple repairs needed in hard-to-access locations, including heavily wooded or flooded areas. As of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, SWEPCO successfully and safely restored power to approximately 40,000 customers. SWEPCO's...

Beryl caused significant damage to SWEPCO’s energy delivery system and distribution networks with homes and businesses damaged. A familiar scene across the ArkLaTex included roofs removed, trees downed, and power lines snapped as severe weather moved through the ArkLaTex on Monday, July 8.   SWEPCO’s three-state service territory SWEPCO deployed its storm response team, which included utility professionals as part of Mutual Assistance from outside SWEPCO’s service...

Beryl made landfall and left millions of Texans without power, including about 14,000 SWEPCO customers in Texas, primarily in the Longview region. Its path of destruction continued into the ArkLaTex and, sadly, claimed the life of a Louisiana resident, according to the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office. Beryl’s arrival into the ArkLaTex region fueled a warm and unstable atmosphere and churned more than 67 active tornado warnings, a National Weather Service record, across the area, wit...

Arkansans can get help to pay summer cooling bills beginning July 8 through September 30, or 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 Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment to find the community-based organization or CBO that administers the program in the county. Heating and cooling seasons Nationally, seven out of ten households...

A stretch of high temperatures across the service territory is underway. With highs above 90 degrees, coupled with high humidity, feel like temperatures are hovering near 100! As a result, air conditioners may be working hard to keep homes cool, which increases energy use and electric bills. Cooling devices into overtime “Extremely hot, summer weather can send your cooling devices into overtime — causing your energy usage and electric bill to go up,” said Paul Pratt, Custome...

LOVATO Electric's range of FB01F and FB01G type UL-approved fuse holders now includes the 2P and 3P versions with a status indicator light. Mounting on a 35mm DIN rail, this version with a status indicator determines quickly if the fuse is still operative or needs to be replaced.  Applications suitable for the protection from short circuit and overload current of any type of motor and electric installations in low-voltage systems. Usually installed downstream of a switch disconnector and u...

The new LVMP30 that completes the range of start-up priority change relays with dedicated versions for alternating between 3 or 4 motors, integrating the priority change relays for 2 motors type LVMP05, LVMP10, and CSP2E, is now available. They are made with LRD series micro PLCs pre-configured with a program dedicated for the alternation between 3 or 4 motors, with the purpose of making homogeneous operating time and wear. Keyboard with a display The presence of the keyboard with a display...

Louisiana Public Service Commissioners have approved SWEPCO’s request to refund customers, correcting a mistake in the 2023 Formula Rate Plan. SWEPCO’s Louisiana customers will see the refund as a credit applied to their bills beginning in July.  “We asked the commission to review the error as soon as possible so SWEPCO customers could start receiving benefits this summer,” said SWEPCO Vice President of Regulatory and Finance, Tom Brice, Jr., adding “We appr...

Crews took advantage of clear, sunny weather to complete restoration to 95 percent of customers affected by powerful storms that pummeled through the ArkLaTex. Severe storms bombarded the region in waves bringing three EF1 tornados, damaging hurricane-strength winds and rain. SWEPCO crews, with the help and support of 1323 additional storm responders, have worked nonstop to restore power to the customers. The remaining outages primarily involve repairs in hard-to-reach treacherous terrain or co...

LOVATO Electric launches RFID safety sensors SSF series. Provided with RFID technology, these sensors offer a high level of protection up to PL e / SIL 3, also when connecting 16 sensors in series. SSF series RFID safety sensors The SSF series sensors are available with two types of connectors, either M12 or pigtail with a 15cm M12 connector, two coding levels (either generic or Teach-in), and then can be easily adapted to the specific needs of the application. The units are versatile and re...

The electronic motor starters ME series are compact starters in a 22.5mm wide enclosure for applications requiring a high number of starts and space savings inside the panel. They are built with hybrid technology, combining the advantage of the long life of a wear-free semiconductor device with the high robustness and low consumption of a mechanical relay.  Electronic motor starters ME series The range includes direct starters and reversing starters for motors up to 2.4 or 7A for system...

Following their mission to offer a complete range of components and accessories for panel and machine builders, LOVATO Electric expands its range of products with the introduction of power distribution blocks ACB series. The power distribution blocks are accessories that provide a centralized point for routing and distribute efficiently the power supply to the circuits. An electrical panel that is properly arranged offers several advantages, such as higher safety, easy assembly and maintenance,...

LOVATO Electric expands its range of micro PLC with the new LRK series with integrated Ethernet port. The range consists of 4 codes, completing the LRD series, with which it shares the expansion modules type LRE. The main features are listed below. Thanks to the connection with Ethernet port, it is possible to configure the micro PLC from both a local PC and remotely via IP address connection. Moreover, the Ethernet port integrates a web server, allowing remote monitoring of the micro PLC&rsquo...

Completing the range of LOVATO Electric emergency signaling devices are the new illuminated disks. Their main function is to make the emergency button easily recognizable and identifiable in the event of its activation in non-optimal visibility conditions, and to identify which actuator is operated in the presence of several emergency mushrooms in the same area. There are 3 different supply voltages (24VAC/DC, 110…120VAC, and 220…240VAC), 4 specific markings in different languages...