AEP Foundation contributes $35,000 to Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde

Uvalde, TX, February 9, 2023 - Southwest Texas Junior College (SWTJC) in Uvalde. The contribution will help fund the purchase of a bucket truck and a digger truck to be used in the training program.

AEP Texas External Affairs Manager Jimmy Earnest presented an enlarged version of the contribution check on behalf of the AEP Foundation. Earnest noted that American Electric Power, the parent company of AEP Texas, created the AEP Foundation in 2005 to provide a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area.

The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in science, technology, engineering, and math; meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing, and the elimination of hunger; and championing social and racial justice. Other Foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, promote healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music, and cultural heritage.

“This AEP Foundation contribution is an investment in all of our futures,” Earnest said. “We are helping ensure that there will be qualified line crews available to help provide continued electric reliability. That’s good for AEP Texas, electricity consumers, and the communities we serve.” 

SWTJC Dean of Applied Sciences and Workforce Education Johnny Guzman noted that the goal of SWTJC’s Powerline Technician Program is to expand and enhance the training program on a full-time basis at the Eagle Pass and Del Rio campuses. “Making this program available to our students in these border communities on a full-time basis will make the program more easily accessible for participants to prepare for a career in the electric utilities industry,” he said.

AEP Texas is part of the American Electric Power (AEP) system. AEP maintains the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 221,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver reliable power to nearly 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP is focused on building more innovative energy infrastructure and delivering innovative technologies and custom energy solutions to its customers.

AEP Texas serves over one million electric meters in the deregulated Texas marketplace. As an energy delivery (wires) company, AEP Texas delivers electricity safely and reliably to homes, businesses, and industries across its nearly 100,000 square mile service territory in south and west Texas. AEP Texas also builds new power lines, restores service following outages, and records electric usage using advanced meters for retail electric providers (REPs) throughout its service territory. The company also connects or disconnects services upon the orders of the REPs.