John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant:
• Approximately 89% complete
• Currently 1700+ construction employees on site
• Currently 108 full-time employees on site
• The 600 MW plant will be the most efficient and cleanest coal-fueled plant in US
• Will provide safe, reliable service and affordable rates for customers in AR, LA and TX
• We appreciate the support of all our community partners and look forward to bringing the unit online late 2012
A Powerful History – Celebrating a Century of Service in 2012
SWEPCO is celebrating a century of service to its customers this year, and 100 years is a long time. Our centennial logo even displays the popular gold and black colors from SWEPCO’s past. Formed as Southwestern Gas and Electric Company in June 1912, AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) is 100 years old, has undergone a name change twice, and no longer provides gas, water, ice or transportation services.
The original Southwestern Gas and Electric Company was the product of a merger between three utilities – Shreveport Gas, Electric Light and Power Company, Caddo Gas and Oil Company, and Texarkana Gas and Electric Company in 1912.
SWEPCO Seeks APSC Review of Flint Creek Power Plant Environmental Retrofit Plan
SWEPCO has asked the Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) to review the company’s plans to install environmental controls on the Flint Creek Power Plant in Gentry, AR. To comply with new Environmental Protection Agency regulations, we must install additional environmental controls to continue operation of the Flint Creek Power Plant beyond 2015, or we must replace that base load generating capacity.
SWEPCO Signs Wind Power Purchase Agreements for 359 Megawatts
SWEPCO has signed long-term power purchase agreements for a total of 358.65 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from wind projects in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. This was done as a commitment in a recent settlement of legal issues involving the John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant. The agreements will more than quadruple SWEPCO’s wind energy portfolio. With these long-term power purchase agreements, we have added a substantial amount of wind energy to serve SWEPCO customers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, and we have combined efforts with a Turk Power Plant partner to exceed the 400-megawatt commitment in our settlement.
SWEPCO Plans For Rate Case Submittal with Texas PUC in Summer 2012 
SWEPCO plans to file a full base rate case in Texas during summer 2012, with new rates going into effect around December 2012. The primary drivers for the filing are to fully include the J. Lamar Stall unit and the John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant in SWEPCO Texas rates. The Stall facility is a 508 MW gas-fired generating unit that has been providing power to customers since June 2010 and the Turk plant is a 440
MW (SWEPCO’s share) plant that is expected to begin service in late 2012. SWEPCO continues to gather the information required for the filing (the last base case filing we made in Texas in 2009 required over 10,000 pages of information). Further details regarding this filing will be sent directly to city offices with follow-up visits from SWEPCO as the filing becomes more firm.
What is a Service Quality Improvement Program (SQIP)?
The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) and SWEPCO entered into a SQIP in 2000. The intent of the program is to increase overall service reliability and customer satisfaction by providing for and agreeing to maintain the following; 1) a minimum number of overall employees in the service territory (Louisiana), both field and management, 2) a tree trimming and vegetation spend program, 3) an apprenticeship program to fill future lineman vacancies, and 4) a 10-year inspection program for overhead and underground network service.
SWEPCO Announces Settlement
SWEPCO announced on Dec. 22, 2011, that the company had settled all legal actions brought against it by the Sierra Club, the National Audubon Society and Audubon Arkansas related to the Turk Power Plant under construction in Southwest Arkansas. The settlement includes a provision that SWEPCO and its affiliates will construct or secure 400 MW of new renewable energy resources by the end of 2014.
Avoid Contact with Overhead Lines When Performing Outside Spring Cleanup Chores
Overhead power lines are often forgotten about or dismissed as potential safety hazards. A quick scan overhead can help to keep you safe. Whether you are cleaning a pool, trimming trees, painting your house, cleaning your gutters, or installing a TV antenna – all could put you near energized overhead power lines. Always maintain at least
10 feet of clearance between you and anything you are touching and the wires. If you have trees near your service drop (the power line from the utility pole to your home or business), make arrangements with your power company so they can de-energize the line. If a ladder, tree branch, antenna or pole falls into a power line do not touch it – serious injury or death can occur. Visit http://www.swepco.com/ for more electrical safety information.
SWEPCO Is Committed to the Environment – Celebrate Earth Day April 22, 2012
Eagles gather on SWEPCO Lake near the Flint
Creek Power Plant in Northwest Arkansas.
• SWEPCO informs people living in Gregg, Smith and Upshur Counties, Texas about Ozone Action Days through its WEATHERLINE service. Call 903-234-1000 for the days’ forecast and ozone action awareness.
• A supporter of the Black Bayou project, located in the northwest corner of Louisiana. The site contains five miles of spring-fed streams with a diverse habitat prime for preservation, including the globally rare Arkansas Oak.
• With strong community partnerships, SWEPCO built an eagle and wildlife observation pavilion and nature area at the Flint Creek Power Plant. www.facebook.com/SWEPCOEagleWatch
• SWEPCO undertakes environmental assessments of all new projects, including endangered species surveys, archaeological investigations, wetlands mapping, groundwater testing and socio-economic impact determinations.
• SWEPCO supports and promotes efforts to use electricity wisely by its customers. For information on how to save energy and money, visit www.swepco.com.
Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) headquartered in Shreveport, La., serves territories in Louisiana, Arkansas, East Texas and the Panhandle area of North Texas. SWEPCO maintains regulatory offices in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, LA., Austin, TX. and Little Rock, AR. External affairs offices are located in Shreveport, LA., Longview, Texarkana, TX. and Fayetteville, AR. SWEPCO Serves 520,400 retail customers in three states, including 113,700 in western Arkansas, 225,700 in northwest and central Louisiana and 181,000 in north and eastern Texas.
Visit our website http://www.swepco.com/for more information or contact srmccloud@aep.com regarding the contents of this edition of Watts New From SWEPCO.
