Crews and contractors supporting Entergy’s Louisiana utilities are on standby as the National Weather Service forecasts the potential for multiple winter storms to impact portions of the state throughout the weekend and into next week.
The severe weather could bring wintry precipitation like freezing rain, sleet and snow. The companies are closely monitoring weather forecasts as this type of precipitation can create problems for the electric system and make for hazardous driving conditions, slowing power restoration.
Snow and ice accumulation can add weight to tree limbs and powerlines, causing limbs to break and fall into electric equipment. Ice is much heavier than snow, so if certain areas receive rain in subfreezing temperatures and ice builds up on electric equipment, it could result in power outages.
Restoration during extremely cold weather can take time. If outages do occur, crews may have to bring customers online in phases to avoid damaging the electric system. This is often the case in areas where customers have all-electric homes. To learn more about restoring power in extremely cold weather, visit entergynewsroom.com/storm-center/restoration/extreme-cold/.
Crews will continue practicing social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may slow restoration work.
Customers should be prepared for winter weather as well. For preparedness and safety tips, visit https://www.entergynewsroom.com/storm-center/winterweather/ [entergynewsroom.com].
STORM RESTORATION PROCESS
If there are widespread outages, we will deploy scouts to assess damage. We base our estimates of restoration times on those assessments. We will communicate these estimates with you, updating as new information becomes available. Our crews will simultaneously be restoring service where it is deemed safe to do so. We ask for your patience, and please know restoring your power safely and quickly is our top priority.
The restoration process can be hampered by the surge of instantaneous electrical demand from appliances (heating units, water heaters, etc.) when service is restored to your location, potentially overloading protective devices on Entergy’s electrical system. To help mitigate this problem, Entergy encourages you to turn off any electrical heaters or electrical appliances that can easily be turned off until power is restored.
As with any weather event, please be mindful of the following safety tips:
- Live wires can be deadly. Stay away from downed power lines. Call 1-800-9OUTAGE or 1-800-968-8243 to report downed or dangling power lines, poles or other damaged equipment.
- Do not trim trees or remove debris on or near downed power lines. Only power company crews or their contractors should remove trees or limbs touching power lines.
- Keep away from the immediate areas where crews are working. There is always the danger of moving equipment and the possibility of construction materials or limbs or overhead wires falling to the ground.
- If you plan on using a generator for temporary power, get a licensed electrician and disconnect from the utility electric system before hooking up to your main electric panel.
- Do not run a generator in a confined space without adequate ventilation.
- Turn off any electrical appliances that can easily be turned to the off position until power is restored.
- Check on seniors, who can be particularly susceptible to extreme temperatures.
- Try to stay off the roads in affected areas. Restoration crews can work safer and faster if they don’t have to work around traffic.
We want to keep you informed. The best way to get information about outages is via Entergy’s View Outage pageon our website. Additional resources for your convenience:
- Download our free app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app.
- Sign up for text alerts. From your cellphone text REG to 36778.
- Visit the Entergy Storm Center website.
- Follow us on Twitter at @EntergyNOLA and @EntergyLA or on Facebook at Facebook.com/EntergyNOLA or Facebook.com/EntergyLA.
- Call us at 800-9OUTAGE (800-968-8243).
- Follow updates in your local news media like radio television and newspapers.
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