Swepco Charges up List of Largest Utilities

Southwestern Electric Power Co. (Swepco) of Fayetteville, traditionally the third-largest electric company in Arkansas, jumped a notch this year thanks to favorable wholesale energy trading.

In its 2001 annual report filed earlier this year with the Arkansas Public Service Commission, Swepco reported annual revenue from Arkansas customers of nearly $576 million. That was more than double the revenue reported for 2000 ($276 million) and enough to move Swepco ahead of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. ($415 million) of Little Rock.

Virtually all of the $300 million increase in revenue was attributed to an increase in “sales for resale” — or sales to other electric providers.