From left: Jeff Hensley, Director of Support Services, TASD; Lisa Thompson, SWEPCO External Affairs Manager; Dr. Lloyd Jackson, Superintendent, Texarkana, Arkansas School District and Greg Perkins, SWEPCO Energy Efficiency leader.
On an ordinary weekday morning at the Texarkana Arkansas School District (TASD), the efficient hum of the HVAC system or the brightness of the classroom lights likely went unnoticed by the students, teachers and staff. But those small, often overlooked details have helped fuel one of the most significant energy saving success stories in the region. TASD’s energy efficiency efforts now top 3.7 million kilowatt-hours saved, and more than $435,000 returned to the district.
SWEPCO officials celebrated that progress, presenting TASD with its latest incentive check: $8,364.58 earned through the district’s ongoing work in SWEPCO’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) program. Since 2019, TASD has partnered with SWEPCO’s Arkansas Energy Efficiency Programs to reduce energy use and generate savings. Project by project, building by building, the results are striking: 3,762,236 kWh saved and $435,084 in incentives delivered to the district and local contractors. The saved energy alone could power 358 average homes for a single year.
“Those savings stem from meaningful upgrades: modern lighting and lighting controls, smarter HVAC operations, and sustained improvements driven by district staff who participate in the SEM program’s energy-focused coaching and behavior-based strategies,” explained Greg Perkins, an Energy Efficiency leader from SWEPCO.
SWEPCO and TASD have collaborated even longer, with earlier initiatives detailed in reports to the TASD School Board.
Jeff Hensley, Director of Support Services, TASD, shown with a recognition trophy from SWEPCO’s Energy Efficiency leader Greg Perkins.
“Through SWEPCO’s Arkansas energy efficiency programs, TASD received expert guidance to identify cost effective upgrades that reduce energy use while keeping learning environments comfortable and reliable for students and staff,” said Jeff Hensley, Texarkana Arkansas School District. “Verified savings translate into real dollars returned to the district freeing up resources for classrooms and educational priorities.”
A Regional Story of Savings
In 2025 alone, SWEPCO partnered with dozens of school districts across Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana to deliver more than $441,000 in additional incentives and achieve nearly 2 million kWh in estimated energy savings. Together, these efforts are helping schools find practical ways to stretch tight budgets while improving energy efficiency across the region.
Arkansas: In 2025, SWEPCO completed energy efficiency projects with 12 Arkansas school districts, resulting in a total of 1,083,478 kWh in energy savings and $113,454.00 in incentives. Participating districts included Ashdown ISD, Clear Springs ISD, Eureka Springs ISD, Fayetteville ISD, Fouke ISD, Greenwood ISD, Horatio ISD, Mineral Springs ISD, Rogers ISD, Springdale ISD, St. Vincent de Paul School, and Texarkana ISD.
Texas: In 2025, SWEPCO completed 51 energy efficiency projects with Texas educational institutions, including Kilgore College, Clarendon College, LeTourneau University, and the following independent school districts: Pinetree ISD, Texarkana ISD, Carthage ISD, Beckville ISD, Marshall ISD, Gilmer ISD, Fruitvale ISD, Mt. Pleasant ISD, Union Hill ISD, Longview ISD, and West Rusk ISD, resulting in a total of $266,824.05 in incentives returned to participating schools with a total energy savings of 3,287,565.36 kWh.
Louisiana: In 2025, SWEPCO worked on projects with these Louisiana schools: Centenary Housing, St. John Beckman School, Caddo Parish (P1), Remington College, Southfield School representing a total of $60,808.32 in incentives and total energy savings of 838,179 kWh.
Every dollar represents avoided energy use and money redirected to educational needs instead of utility bills.
How Schools and Families Can Save
SWEPCO offers programs for schools, businesses, and residential customers alike. Qualifying participants can receive incentives, technical guidance, energy assessments, and expert support to tackle projects that save energy and reduce long-term operating costs.
To explore options, customers can visit SWEPCOsolutions.com or connect with a SWEPCO Arkansas Energy Advisor at Swepcoee@aep.com