Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), in collaboration with SporTran and the City of Shreveport, has unveiled an electric bus adorned in a striking red wrap aimed at increasing the visibility of public transportation in the city. The bus features a prominent QR code and a URL that directs to SWEPCO.com/billhelp, providing customers with access to resources for managing their utility bills.
State-of-the-Art Technology in Proterra ZX5
The Proterra ZX5 electric bus, supplied by Proterra, boasts cutting-edge technology powered by four batteries. It includes automatic regenerative braking to extend the driving range by generating and storing power during braking. The bus is designed with passenger comfort in mind, featuring 38 seats, supports for two mobility devices, an automatic wheelchair ramp, along with essential safety features like a fire extinguisher and two emergency hatches.
Promoting Electric Transportation
William Bradford, Jr., SWEPCO's Vice President of External Affairs, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, saying, "We are excited to visibly promote our message of help for our customers. At SWEPCO, 'We're Here to Help' with tools and resources, and that’s a message we’re happy to have rolling through the streets of our community." This new project underscores SWEPCO's dedication to promoting electric transportation and enhancing its partnership with SporTran and the City of Shreveport.
Supporting Residents with Heating Costs
Coinciding with sweeter weather and rising utility costs, the bus campaign is timely as Louisiana opens its application window for residents seeking assistance with winter heating costs through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Dinero Washington, SporTran’s CEO, remarked, "At SporTran, we take pride in powering our fleet with clean energy vehicles like our Proterra EV buses. We believe in promoting cost-efficient, sustainable public transportation solutions through our commitment to No/Low emissions standards and we welcome SWEPCO’s message of help as a mobile reminder to the community."
Nationwide LIHEAP Availability
The federally funded LIHEAP program is accessible nationwide and encourages income-eligible Louisiana residents to apply promptly due to limited funds available. The application window for winter heating opened mid-November, and as William Bradford explained, "LIHEAP funds are administered in each Louisiana parish. The funds are first-come, first-serve, and we want to make sure SWEPCO customers know help is available and the time to apply is now. A helpful place to start is by logging into your account and completing the survey at swepco.com/billhelp."
Valuable Utility Assistance from SWEPCO
Brett Mattison, SWEPCO's president, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to customer support, stating, "We are committed to providing our customers with valuable resources to help them manage their utility bills. We encourage anyone who may need assistance to explore our various programs designed to support them through seasonal billing challenges." Customers can leverage SWEPCO's affordability tool by scanning the QR code on the bus or accessing their SWEPCO account online.
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 solutions for every budget.
Essential safety features
The Proterra ZX5, the latest electric bus from Proterra, comes fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology
The Proterra ZX5, the latest electric bus from Proterra, comes fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology and is powered by four batteries. It features automatic regenerative braking, which generates and stores power while braking, further extending the bus's driving range.
Designed for passenger comfort, the bus includes 38 seats, accommodations for two mobility devices, an automatic wheelchair ramp, and essential safety features like a fire extinguisher and two emergency hatches.
Benefits of going electric in transportation
“We are excited to visibly promote our message of help for our customers,” said VP of External Affairs William Bradford, Jr. “At SWEPCO, "We're Here to Help" with tools and resources and that’s a message we’re happy to have rolling through the streets of our community.”
SWEPCO previously promoted the benefits of going electric in transportation. This latest EV bus wrap continues SWEPCO's ongoing partnership with SporTran and the City of Shreveport.
Receive applications from residents
The bus promotion drive is timely, as Louisiana just opened its application window to receive applications
“At SporTran, we take pride in powering our fleet with clean energy vehicles like our Proterra EV buses. We believe in promoting cost-efficient, sustainable public transportation solutions through our commitment to No/Low emissions standards and we welcome SWEPCO’s message of help as a mobile reminder to the community,” said Dinero Washington, SporTran’s Chief Executive Officer.
The bus promotion campaign is timely as Louisiana recently opened its application window to receive applications from residents who need help with their winter heating costs.
Utility assistance program
The utility assistance program known as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, is a federally funded program available nationally. In Louisiana, the winter heating application window opened in mid-November.
"LIHEAP funds are administered in each Louisiana parish. The funds are first-come, first-serve, and we want to make sure SWEPCO customers know help is available and the time to apply is now,” Bradford explained. "A helpful place to start is by logging into your account and completing the survey at swepco.com/billhelp.”
Winter heating bills
Income-eligible Louisiana residents who need help with their winter heating bills
Income-eligible Louisiana residents who need help with their winter heating bills should apply now through LIHEAP, as funds are limited across the state.
The holidays are often a time when budgets are stretched, and they’re happy to offer customers some additional ways to manage their winter heating bills.
Advantages of SWEPCO's affordability tool
"We are committed to providing our customers with valuable resources to help them manage their utility bills," said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO president. "We encourage anyone who may need assistance to explore our various programs designed to support them through seasonal billing challenges."
SWEPCO customers can take advantage of SWEPCO's affordability tool by simply scanning the QR code on the bus or logging into their SWEPCO account.
