SWEPCO customers can now be notified by text message or email of power outages and the estimated time their service will be restored.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell first found out about the program from Entergy, the largest power company in Louisiana, and decided every power provider in the state needed to jump onboard.

"If you're traveling out of state, and you get a text that says your home in Shreveport is out of electricity, you can call your friends or your neighbors or your relatives and tell them to go take the stuff out of the refrigerator or freezer that's going to ruin," Campbell said. "It's a great program and it won't cost anything."

This comes just in time for another winter weather event for our area. With the way the snow affected power lines during last week's wintry weather, it's possible tonight or tomorrow will be the first time we'll be utilizing this new service.

"Storms and power outages are an unfortunate reality in our state," said Campbell. "With modern communications, power companies can tell customers what they need to know quickly, so they can plan their response."

"We know being without power is an inconvenience," said SWEPCO President and Chief Operating Officer Venita McClellon-Allen in a news release. "These email and text alerts allow SWEPCO to share information with you as soon as it is available."

You can sign up for Outage Alerts on SWEPCO's website. There's no cost to customers, but phone usage or text charges may apply.

 

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