News Summary
On April 26, Sudden power outages in Shreveport and Bossier left over 30,000 customers without electricity. Resulting from voltage issues, SWEPCO implemented load shedding to protect the grid, impacting neighborhoods for 2 to 7 hours. The utility prioritized critical areas but faced criticism from customers regarding insufficient communication and potential compensation. As temperatures soared unexpectedly, SWEPCO plans to enhance its generation capacity and monitor grid conditions closely to prevent future outages.
Shreveport and Bossier experienced sudden power outages on Saturday, April 26, affecting over 30,000 customers, as the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) ordered load shedding to protect the regional electrical grid. The unexpected outages stemmed from voltage issues occurring outside the Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO)’s infrastructure, leading to power loss for periods ranging from 2 to 7 hours.
According to SWEPCO spokesperson Michael Corbin, the outages were not planned or part of a brownout strategy, but rather a preventive measure taken in response to emergent conditions. Engineers prioritized maintaining power to critical areas, such as hospitals and emergency services, while other neighborhoods experienced sudden outages. Due to the urgency of the situation, there was insufficient time to rotate outages among affected areas, which could have mitigated the impact on customers.
SWEPCO’s grid is generally considered strong and is regularly upgraded. However, Corbin explained that this incident resembles a jigsaw puzzle losing stability as pieces are removed. The SPP’s decision to instruct SWEPCO to cut power was a move to avert potential catastrophic grid damage. It was noted that a miscalculation by the SPP regarding the area’s electricity generation needs led to this situation, creating a necessity for power reductions to avoid a larger grid failure.
Initially, SWEPCO had reduced its generation capacity due to expected milder temperatures. However, temperatures reached the high 80s on Saturday, exceeding the previous forecasts. This unexpected heat led to the rapid depletion of available power generation, and without the action taken, SWEPCO might have faced unplanned outages impacting as many as 300,000 customers.
In response to the incident, SWEPCO President Brett Mattison indicated that future occurrences of this nature are not anticipated. The utility is working closely with SPP to develop preventive measures to address potential issues. Customers have been encouraged to download the SWEPCO app and keep their contact information updated for efficient emergency notifications in case of future significant events. Additionally, SWEPCO is planning to construct a new natural gas-powered plant, expected to be operational by 2027, which will enhance their generation capacity and reliability.
The public response included frustration from customers and officials alike. Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell expressed discontent over the outages, calling for SWEPCO to consider compensation for businesses impacted by the disruptions. Meanwhile, Mattison was uncertain about whether the utility would be able to offer any compensation for electricity not consumed during the outages.
Following the emergency outages, SWEPCO reported that grid conditions had stabilized and would continue to be monitored closely. A thorough investigation into the root causes of the outage will be undertaken by SWEPCO in collaboration with SPP to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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Additional Resources
- KSLA: Temporary Emergency Grid Protection Outages Effect Bossier Parish
- Shreveport Times: What to Know About SWEPCO Power Outage in Shreveport and Bossier
- KTBS: Cause of SWEPCO Emergency Outage Unclear Despite Restored Power
- Wikipedia: Predictive Maintenance
- Shreveport Times: SWEPCO Cuts Power to Avoid Catastrophic Damage to Power Grid
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Electricity
