Natural Gas Lateral, Interconnect & Associated Facilities / Firm Transportation RFP - Benton Unit 1

American Electric Power Service Corporation (AEPSC), as agent for Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), is soliciting proposals from bidders to construct, operate, and maintain a natural gas pipeline lateral and associated natural gas facilities to supply the Benton Unit 1 Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Natural Gas Project located in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. The project requires design and construction of gas infrastructure capable of delivering natural gas at minimum 810 psig and maximum 1000 psig, with maximum consumption of 226,000 MMBtu per day and minimum consumption of 66,720 MMBtu per day.

The Company seeks reliable natural gas supply beginning on the estimated Commercial Operation Date (COD) of March 1, 2031. All construction and interconnection activities must be completed with sufficient time to provide intermittent startup and fuel for testing beginning approximately April 30, 2030. The scope includes design of the lateral, interconnect and delivery facilities, with costs to be recovered over a 20-year Initial Term beginning with the Plant's COD. Bidders must also provide offers of mainline firm transportation capacity. The bidder shall bear all capital costs and fees related to construction of the lateral, interconnect, and delivery facilities.

Key Dates and Milestones: Draft RFP issued May 18, 2026; Notice of Intent to Bid and Credit Requirements submission due June 8, 2026; Final RFP issued June 15, 2026; Bid submissions due September 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time; Clarification of Bids period September 10, 2026 through October 1, 2026; Bid Selection scheduled for October 12, 2026. SWEPCO intends to obtain regulatory approval, which will require execution of a Precedent Agreement limiting initial work to permitting, regulatory approvals, engineering, and right-of-way identification until final Commission approval is received. Major procurement and construction work will not commence until final Commission approval has been granted by SWEPCO.

Bidders must provide comprehensive proposals including executive summary, bidder information, compensation and rate structure, project and construction schedule with major milestones, and quarterly pre-service cost estimates. All costs should be expressed as dollars per MMBtu, with lateral/interconnect/delivery facilities costs provided separately from firm transportation costs. The Company reserves the right to review and approve engineering drawings and operational procedures for facilities installed on SWEPCO property.