Slemco is answering questions about power restoration and the work currently underway in Acadiana following Hurricane Delta.
KATC sat down with Slemco Communications Coordinator Mary Laurent who has been providing customers with continuous updates during and after the storm.
Q: Has Slemco been turning on and off power after restoration to some areas.
Laurent says a variety of things could be the cause for outages after certain areas back come online. It is not uncommon for people to come on and then lose power again due to other issues with lines or equipment that were not apparent at the time of repair.
With major storms, power poles and lines may be weakened causing the outage.
As an example, Laurent mentioned the downed line across I-49 caused by a broken pole on Tuesday. Power was out for several hours in the area until crews could repair that line. The roadway also had to be closed.
Read more here
Q: Do we expect more outages?
Laurent says that outages do occur after power restoration, especially after major storms. Outages can be caused by trees or branches that may fall days or weeks after the storm following power restoration. They work to trim trees and ask that residents do their best to manage trees or limbs but damage is still expected.
Q. Can I get through to report an outage in my area?
For those without power, reports can still be made. Making a call should be easier as more customers come online
As of Wednesday morning, 11,617 customers are still without power. Laurent says more calls should be able to go through than what was previously possible. You can make calls to report an outage by calling 1-888-275-3626 or by going to their website
Q. How many out-of-state workers are here in Louisiana with Slemco?
Over 700 people are working with Slemco from out of state. The work is varying from minor fixes to complete pole repair or replacements.
Laurent says that Slemco understands the the frustration residents in Acadiana are feeling at this time but reminds customers that crews are out working diligently to bring power back online.
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