March 12, 2026 — Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) is modernizing how it keeps the lights on with the launch of a new drone‑based inspection program that gives crews a faster, sharper view of vegetation near power lines. By integrating high‑resolution aerial technology into its reliability strategy, SWEPCO is identifying potential trouble spots earlier, reducing outage risks, ensuring the quality control of work execution and strengthening service for customers.
Customers in Keithville, Florien, and Negreet, La., along with parts of Shreveport, may soon see drones operating safely above power lines. The drones will collect high‑resolution imagery of vegetation, encroaching trees, and surrounding infrastructure. In addition to the Louisiana sites, inspection flights have also recently taken place in the East Texas cities of Clarksville, Kilgore, and Marshall.
SWEPCO crews and contractors adhere to all federal aviation guidelines and will not collect personal data. All SWEPCO drone operators are FAA certified, and these flights will focus solely on electric infrastructure and the vegetation surrounding it.
The drones help SWEPCO check areas where tree‑trimming has already been completed and spot places where more trimming might be needed. The cameras on the drones give SWEPCO forestry crews a clear, overhead look at trees growing near power lines. This helps find branches that could fall or cause outages, so problems can be fixed earlier and keep customers’ power more reliable.
“This drone initiative supports our continuous efforts to improve reliability and resiliency for the communities we serve,” said Matt Tarpley, Region Forestry Supervisor at SWEPCO. “The detailed imagery helps our forestry teams make faster, more informed decisions so we can stay ahead of potential issues and keep power flowing safely and dependably.”
For more information about SWEPCO’s vegetation management efforts, visit SWEPCO.com/trees.
