Mount Vernon Optic-Herald

Extreme summer temperatures of 100 degrees and above and high humidity across Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas again last week sent usage of electricity by customers of AEP Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) to another new all-time high level. A new peak customer demand was established last Wednesday, Aug. 11 with a record 4,993 megawatt (MW) load on the SWEPCO system. It broke the old mark of 4,990 MWs set just the week before on Aug. 4. The old record prior to this summer had been set on Aug. 4, 2008, with a 4,950 MW load. See the Aug. 19 edition of the Mount Vernon Optic-Herald for more information.