MARSHALL, Texas (KSLA) – Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) has launched its first grid enhancement project supported by Texas Energy Fund in Marshall.
It’s the first step in SWEPCO’s efforts to modernize the system and improve reliability in east Texas without raising costs for customers. It’s all part of a $200 million grant administered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which Governor Greg Abbott announced earlier in June. As part of the project, around 700 miles of powerlines will be upgraded, and nearly 200 circuits will be improved. SWEPCO officials say this will enhance reliability for almost 193,000 people living in 24 counties in Texas.
The project in Marshall begins the first phase of replacing copper wire with stronger, more durable aluminum-alloy conductors and installing new utility poles designed to better withstand severe weather.
“When we analyzed our system, upgrading copper wire to more modern equipment stood out as an area that would have the biggest impact,” said Adam Keeth, SWEPCO director of distribution engineering & reliability. “By replacing it with modern aluminum‑alloy conductors and installing stronger poles, we’re building a system that can better withstand ice, wind, and long‑duration storms and deliver more reliable service to our customers.”
SWEPCO says the upgrades will:
strengthen the local distribution networkimprove storm resilience across SWEPCO’s Texas service areasupport long‑term reliability for homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses
Work on the system will continue over the next several years, with the full project expected to be done by early 2031, SWEPCO says. The project will coordinate with around 3,000 miles of vegetation management work that’s already been planned as part of a resiliency strategy.
“Together, these efforts will modernize some of the oldest portions of the distribution system, rebuilding them to a more resilient, storm-hardened design within fully cleared rights-of-way,” SWEPCO said in a news release.
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