Following the severe multi-state storms that swept through the nation's heartland on Sunday, SWEPCO crews rapidly initiated restoration efforts for their customers. The storms, which generated hundreds of tornadoes across the Midwest, caused significant damage, particularly impacting SWEPCO's service areas in Northwest Louisiana.
Widespread Damage and Immediate Response
To address this extensive damage, more than 1,200 utility professionals, including line workers and tree crews from Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Georgia, have been mobilized. By Tuesday, nearly 91% of affected customers had their power restored within 43 hours of the storm's passing.
Extended Power Outages Expected
SWEPCO has advised customers to be prepared for prolonged power outages due to the extensive damage inflicted on transmission and distribution systems. Additional outages might occur as restoration efforts and repairs progress. Despite these challenges, SWEPCO and its reinforcing crews remain committed to restoring full power to their service areas.
Restoration Updates and ETRs
To keep their customers informed, SWEPCO is continuously reviewing and updating the Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR) for affected areas. The ETR reflects how quickly 95% of customers are expected to have power restored, with timelines adjusted based on the level of damage and resources available.
Current Restoration Progress
As of Tuesday at 5 p.m., approximately 55,627 of the nearly 61,000 customers originally without power have regained service. Additionally, all hospitals and critical care facilities have regained power. SWEPCO emphasizes that as restoration activities progress, power may be fully restored more quickly than initially estimated.
Estimated Restoration Times for Affected Areas
Final restoration times have been determined as follows:
- Marshall, Carthage, and Mt Pleasant, Texas – by 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 30
- Hornbeck, Bossier City, Stonewall, Plain Dealing, Vivian, and Haughton, Louisiana – by 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 30
- Shreveport, Louisiana – by 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 1
Safe Usage of Backup Generators
Customers choosing to utilize backup or standby generators are urged to follow all safety instructions rigorously. It's critical not to connect portable generators directly to circuit panels as this can cause electricity to "backfeed" into the lines, posing significant risks to the safety of utility workers and the public.
SWEPCO crews began efforts to get the lights back on for its customers soon after the multi-state storms passed late Sunday evening.
Storm damage was far-reaching with a headline-making weather system that spanned the nation’s heartland and spawned hundreds of tornadoes across the Midwest including four confirmed by the National Weather Service within SWEPCO’s service territories in Northwest Louisiana.
An army of more than 1,200 utility professionals, including lineworkers and tree crews from Alabama, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky and Georgia, made another strong push Tuesday to restore power to more customers. Nearly 91% of all customers have been restored in under 43 hours.
Extended power outages
SWEPCO customers should prepare for extended power outages and in some cases additional outages
As progress continues, SWEPCO shared that due to the excessive damage to electrical equipment, including transmission and distribution systems, remaining SWEPCO customers should prepare for extended power outages and in some cases additional outages could occur as the system is repaired.
Often the smaller the outage numbers become the more difficult the jobs. Rest assured, SWEPCO and crews who have joined forces to repower every customer, remain undaunted and will continue to get power flowing to every customer.
SWEPCO is continuing to review and, when possible, update for customers when they can expect to have their power restored. These Global Estimated Time of Restoration or ETRs is an estimate of how long it will take to restore 95% of all customers affected. The more damage there is to the system, the further out in time the global ETR will be.
Response timings
SWEPCO is powering forward on behalf of all their customers. With thanks to an army of more than 1,200 utility professionals, including line workers and tree crews who came to help from six states, SWEPCO made another important step forward on Tuesday.
Nearly 91% of all customers have been restored in under 43 hours. As that work progresses, SWEPCO will share any potential restoration time updates. At peak, approximately 61,000 SWEPCO customers were without power.
As of Tuesday, at 5 p.m., power has been restored to roughly 55,627 customers. All hospitals and critical care facilities are online.
Because of excessive damage to electrical equipment including transmission and distribution systems, SWEPCO customers should prepare for extended power outages and in some cases additional outages could occur as SWEPCO repairs damage to their system.
Estimated Time of Restoration
Based on the number of outages and crews available, SWEPCO develop a Global Estimated Time of Restoration or ETR, which is an estimate of how long it will take to restore 95% of all customers affected. The more damage there is to the system, the further out in time the global ETR will be.
Latest restoration times include the following:
- Marshall, Carthage, and Mt Pleasant, Texas – 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 30
- Hornbeck, Bossier City, Stonewall, Plain Dealing, Vivian and Haughton, La. – 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 30
- Shreveport, La. – 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 1
- As work progresses, additional updates will be forthcoming.
Some customers may elect to use a backup, or standby, generator to provide power during outages. If one uses a portable or RV generator, do not plug the generator into the circuit box. Portable generators can "backfeed" electricity up the line and risk the lives of repair workers and the public. Follow the manufacturers' instructions carefully and plug essential appliances directly into the generator.
