SHREVEPORT, La. — In celebration of its 113th anniversary, Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) is bringing a beloved piece of its history back to life. The electric utility, founded on June 29, 1912, has restored the iconic neon SWEPCO sign that once sat atop the Arsenal Hill power station on the edge of downtown Shreveport.
The Arsenal Hill plant began construction in 1925 and became a landmark with its 300-foot concrete chimneys—among the tallest structures in Shreveport at the time. The plant officially began generating electricity on Aug. 13, 1926, supplying power to homes and businesses through four turbogenerators. At the time, the output was advertised as being enough to heat 17,000 coffee percolators, power 52,000 vacuum cleaners and operate 166,000 electric fans.
“We are thrilled to bring the SWEPCO sign back to our Arsenal Hill power station,” said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO president and COO. “It is a part of our history that will once again shine a light on a community we love and call home. SWEPCO’s commitment to our customers and our future also shines bright.”…