News Summary
On April 26, 2025, over 30,000 customers in Bossier and Caddo parishes experienced a sudden six-hour power outage, leaving residents frustrated and seeking answers. The Public Service Commissioner has demanded explanations from SWEPCO regarding the emergency situation. Local businesses also suffered losses, prompting concerns about future outages during peak summer months. An investigation is set to take place to understand the occurrence and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Bossier City Residents Left in the Dark Following Unplanned Power Outage
BOISER CITY, Louisiana – On a seemingly ordinary Saturday, April 26, 2025, over 30,000 customers in Bossier and Caddo parishes found themselves plunged into darkness due to a six-hour long unplanned power outage. The outage caught many residents off guard and sparked a call for answers from local officials.
Impact on Everyday Life
Jeannette Bange, a longtime resident of south Bossier since 1986, expressed her dismay at the interruption of her day. Having never experienced anything like this in her years living in the area, she noted that the sudden loss of power made it difficult for her to manage her day-to-day tasks. The lack of immediate communication from Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) regarding the cause of the outage added to her frustration.
Michael Matlock, another worried resident from south Bossier, echoed similar sentiments. He expressed concern about the incident, especially since he always pays his bills on time. The unexpected outage left many in disbelief, particularly given that the weather was calm and there seemed to be no obvious reason for the sudden power loss.
Response from Officials
In light of the outage, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell has stepped up to demand explanations from both SWEPCO and Southwest Power Pool (SPP). He announced intentions to investigate SPP’s directive for SWEPCO to “shed load” during peak hours from 3 to 9 p.m. on the day the outage occurred. Campbell revealed that he had received numerous calls from concerned customers, seeking answers on what caused the disruption.
For SWEPCO, the situation was classified as an “emergency,” which prevented them from notifying customers ahead of time. The incident raised alarms about the potential for similar outages in the hot summer months ahead. Residents could only hope that such situations would be a thing of the past.
Businesses Hit Hard
The ripple effects of the outage extended beyond individual households, affecting local businesses as well. Chef Blake Jackson, who owns popular restaurants in the area, shared his frustration about losing significant revenue during what should have been a busy weekend night. The lack of timely communication from SWEPCO only compounded his concerns for future events.
Understanding the Outage
Interestingly, the outages were not due to record electricity consumption but were a consequence of generators and transmission lines undergoing planned maintenance. SPP had ordered SWEPCO to reduce electricity use by 140 megawatts to avoid a larger cascading outage that could have affected hundreds of thousands of customers. According to SPP, the situation was a precautionary measure taken to manage grid instability.
The concept of “load shedding” is typically viewed as a last resort action, aimed at preventing uncontrolled blackouts. However, residents were left seeking clarity about why such steps were necessary and if they could be avoided in the future.
Next Steps
A news conference is set for Tuesday at 10 a.m., providing Campbell the opportunity to hold SPP and SWEPCO officials accountable for their actions leading up to and during the outage. In the meantime, SPP has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation of the event to better understand its causes and implications for the future.
As for SWEPCO, they are encouraging customers to download their app for quicker notifications during emergencies, potentially preventing future surprises when the lights go out. With summer just around the corner, residents remain hopeful for answers and solutions to ensure their power remains reliable.
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Additional Resources
- KSLA News: Public Service Commissioner Calls for Answers
- KTAL News: Thousands without Power in SWEPCO Emergency Grid Protection
- Shreveport Times: SWEPCO Cuts Power for Grid Protection
- Wikipedia: Power Outage
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Electricity
Author: STAFF HERE SHREVEPORT WRITER
The SHREVEPORT STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREShreveport.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Mudbug Madness Festival, Red River Revel Arts Festival, and Independence Bowl. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Shreveport-Bossier Chamber of Commerce and Shreveport Regional Arts Council, plus leading businesses in gaming, healthcare, and energy that power the local economy such as Horseshoe Casino, Ochsner LSU Health, and Atmos Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBatonRouge.com and HERENewOrleans.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Louisiana's dynamic landscape.
