PSO Plans Major Grid Upgrade on Lawton’s East Side — Big Changes Coming

While it's not the most salacious of headlines, it did catch my attention. American Electric Power (Public Service Company of Oklahoma/PSO) is planning to beef up the grid on Lawton's East Side with a pretty substantial new project.

They're planning to replace the main wooden electric carrier towers with steel lattice towers. While a vast improvement in terms of "modern power," the ultimate goal is to stabilize the grid and reduce future outages.

Having lived in Lawton for almost twenty years, in four different neighborhoods, I can absolutely count on one hand how many times my power has gone out. It's five times. Once at each different home I've rented previously, two in Mid-Town, one on the West Side, and twice now in my own home over the last nine years.

It's almost uncanny how dependable the grid in West Lawton is.

That being said, in Downtown Lawton, and I guess the farther East you go in town, that dependability is on shakier terms.

I know the power goes out at our Downtown Studios at least twice per season. Mainly during Spring and Summer, and almost always related to the weather. I do have a bestie living on the East Side, and he can tell you firsthand that the power grid on that side of the interstate is anything but reliable.

Why East Lawton’s Grid Needs an Upgrade

Over the previous five years, the power has been out on the East Side 22 times totaling 410 hours in the dark. Sometimes it's days without power, other times it's merely minutes and hours. Either way, PSO has decided to rebuild the grid with steel to hopefully make the East Side of Lawton as reliable as the West Side.

As with any project, there will be a cost, and PSO won't be willing to take the hit in their profit margins, so it'll be up for discussion soon. County commissioners will be in on it, so if you have concerns, reach out to them. Google is your friend.