CURRENT SITUATION
SWEPCO crews continue restoration efforts following Winter Storm Fern as weather conditions steadily improve. Although temperatures remain below freezing across much of the service territory, warmer weather is expected tomorrow, which will aid ongoing restoration. SWEPCO urges customers to use caution, as refreezing overnight may create hazardous travel conditions during the early morning hours.
As of 6:00 p.m., about 24,300 customers across our service territory remain without power. With the massive winter storm, SWEPCO crews have successfully restored approximately 150,900 outages that were the result of this historic storm.
Travel in the Longview, Shreveport and Valley districts has been extremely slow and hazardous, with crews experiencing travel times three to five times longer than normal. SWEPCO has been coordinating closely with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to access affected areas safely.
With temperatures forecasted to be above freezing, improved road conditions later in the day will allow crews to travel better on the road as our crews continue to work diligently to restore power as safely and quickly as possible.
To accelerate assessments and ongoing repairs, SWEPCO deployed helicopter and drone patrols from Marshall, Texas and Natchitoches, Louisiana to survey lines in and around the surrounding areas. Both patrols are surveying long stretches of line - including remote and heavily wooded areas - to identify damage that ground crews cannot yet access. This aerial effort is one more way SWEPCO is working to serve customers, providing fast visibility into storm impacts when roads remain icy and hazardous.
CUSTOMER RESOURCES
We know outages are challenging, and we appreciate your patience. Our crews and those who have traveled hundreds of miles to help are committed to bringing the lights back on for every customer as quickly and safely as possible.
As repairs continue, SWEPCO is working closely with local officials to make warming stations available on our outage map so customers can find safe places to go if they need shelter.
RESTORATION UPDATES
Estimated Times of Restoration (ETRs)
ETRs have been established. Those times could change as work progresses.
Longview District
- Carthage: 10 PM Tuesday
- Kilgore: 10 PM Tuesday
- Henderson: 10 PM Tuesday
Shreveport District
- Shreveport (city): 10 PM Tonight
- Martin & Castor: 10 PM Tuesday
- Ringgold (Hwy 154, Springhill Church Rd, Hwy 4 area): 10 PM Tuesday
Valley District
- Natchitoches: 10 PM Tuesday
- Hornbeck / Leesville area: 10 PM Tuesday
- Mansfield: 10 PM Wednesday
Because of icy roads, crews must travel safely and slowly. Outage statuses on SWEPCO's outage map may stay on “Assessing” longer than usual. Thank you for your patience and for supporting the linemen working in these conditions.
As the restoration efforts progress, SWEPCO is redeploying crews and equipment and shifting to support customers in the areas still without power. This allows us to move resources where they can make the biggest impact, as quickly and safely as possible.
GET RESTORATION UPDATES
Customers should log in to their SWEPCO account to make sure we have an up-to-date cell number and email. Accurate contact information helps us reach you quickly if conditions change. We also encourage customers to sign up for outage alerts and SWEPCO email updates for real-time restoration information.
Update your information or subscribe to alerts at SWEPCO.com/Alerts. You can also check outage status anytime at SWEPCO.com/OutageMap.
Restoration Process
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Stay Off the Roads: Please avoid unnecessary travel. Clear roads help first responders and our crews access work sites safely and restore power faster.
- Stay Safe: Avoid downed power lines and treat all wires as energized and potentially dangerous. Report downed lines and other safety hazards at SWEPCO.com or by calling 888-218-3919.
- Stay Informed: For the latest outage updates and safety tips, visit SWEPCO.com or use the SWEPCO mobile app.
- Report Outages: Download the SWEPCO app to quickly and easily report outages or report outages at SWEPCO.com.
CUSTOMER PREPAREDNESS
- Treat all downed power lines as energized and dangerous. Stay at least 10 feet away and keep children and pets indoors.
- If using a generator, follow all manufacturer instructions. Never use generators, grills, or camp stoves indoors.
- Customers with medical equipment who rely on electricity should have a backup plan in place in case of prolonged outages.
- Keep extra blankets, warm clothing, and flashlights readily available.
- Charge phones and essential devices ahead of the storm.
- Stay informed by following SWEPCO on social media and visiting SWEPCO.com for alerts and updates.
CAN YOU RECEIVE POWER
Now is the time for customers awaiting service restoration to determine whether their home can receive power - SWEPCO cannot connect power to a home or business if there is damage to the service entrance, which is owned by the customer. Customers must have a licensed electrician repair damage before power can be restored. Click for a flyer in English & Spanish. Learn how to identify weatherhead damages by watching this video. ENGLISH | SPANISH
NEXT UPDATE
We will continue to keep you informed as more information becomes available. Updates will be provided at SWEPCO.com as well as other communication ch