Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) recently hosted key emergency response stakeholders from across East Texas at the Welsh Power Plant in Pittsburg, Texas, providing them an opportunity to interact with each other and gain insights into SWEPCO’s emergency response efforts. 

Members of the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, emergency coordinators, city officials, and representatives from state representative and senate offices traveled to Welsh, in a non-emergency setting, to foster collaboration and understanding among various entities involved in emergency response.

This is the second of their visits to an AEP site. Earlier, TDEM/PUCT visited SWEPCO’s sister utility AEP Texas.

"Collaboration is essential for effective emergency response, and we’re proud to have everyone here today to enhance our collective efforts in ensuring the safety of our communities,” said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO President and COO, who welcomed the group.

SWEPCO opened its doors for a tour of Welsh Power Plant, where attendees witnessed firsthand the intricate process of power generation. The tour not only showcased how power is produced but also highlighted the extensive emergency preparations in place to ensure reliable service during extreme weather events.

“We have all grown up where you flip a switch and power comes on. There is a lot of work that goes on in the background to make that happen, and I think everyone who works in the role of emergency management is better served when they understand what that process is and what it takes to get it there,” said Shawn Hazard, Emergency Management Coordinator at the PUCT.

As the tour continued, SWEPCO’s leadership shared invaluable insights into the company’s response strategies for storm restoration. Bryan Blanton, Director of Distribution Region Operations, emphasized the importance of preparedness, detailing how SWEPCO conducts annual storm drills that simulate various scenarios. He explained that large-scale storms often necessitate the establishment of base camps and staging locations, as well as the intricate process for requesting mutual assistance from other utilities.

Mark Robinson, External Affairs Manager, underscored the significance of communication with local officials and stakeholders during restoration efforts. He cited the June 2023 storm that required the shutdown of Interstate 20 in Marshall, Texas, as a prime example of how collaboration between emergency responders and SWEPCO led to a swift restoration of power.

Jaroddo Horn, Director of Transmission Field Services, elaborated on the complexities involved in repairing transmission lines, explaining how these lines are crucial for delivering power to the distribution system. He also connected his insights to the June 2023 storm, illustrating how transmission issues can significantly impact power restoration.

Attendees were also introduced to innovative tools SWEPCO employs, such as an aerial saw attached to a helicopter for tree trimming in rural areas and drones used to assess storm damage. Those in attendance also learned about enhancements to SWEPCO’s outage map, which now includes weather overlays and Spanish translation, improving accessibility for all customers.

Adam Keeth, Director of Distribution Engineering, presented the recently approved Texas System Resiliency Plan, set to begin implementation in late July. This comprehensive $175 million initiative aims to strengthen the grid serving approximately 192,000 customers across 24 Texas counties. Key components of the plan include enhanced vegetation management, distribution feeder and lateral hardening, and the deployment of Distribution Automated Circuit Reconfiguration systems to improve recovery times from disruptions.

The informal setting of the event encouraged open dialogue, allowing attendees to ask questions and share real-world examples of collaboration.