Entergy Crews Wrapping Up Storm Response Today

02/25/2016

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Kacee Kirschvink

BATON ROUGE -- Power has been restored to the vast majority of customers affected by Tuesday's violent storms. All other customers without power that are capable of receiving it should have their services restored by the end of today.

As of 11 a.m., approximately 1,500 customers who suffered outages from the storm were without power. Most of the remaining outages are in the areas that received severe storm damage, including Assumption, St James and St John the Baptist Parishes. Residents of the three parishes bore the brunt of violent storms that spawned multiple tornadoes and high winds that caused extensive damage to Entergy's electrical system. At its peak, the storm knocked out power to more than 30,500 customers across Louisiana.

Some locations sustained damage to customer-owned equipment, such as the meter base, external breaker box and weather head. Customers who sustained damage to their facilities will need repairs made by an electrician and obtain the proper permits before power can be reconnected. If customers have completed all necessary repairs to their electrical equipment and obtained the proper permits, please call 1-800-ENTERGY to request a service reconnection order.

"We would like to thank our customers, local, state and federal agencies for their cooperation and patience while we worked safely and diligently to restore power to the communities we serve," said Dennis Dawsey, Entergy Louisiana vice president of customer service.

Current estimates are the storms broke more than 250 power poles in Entergy's distribution system. The storms also downed eight transmission structures and damaged three others. Much of the damage to the transmission system is in marshy areas, so airboats and special equipment are being used to make repairs.

Assumption Parish

Paincourtville/Plattenville

Restoration efforts continue in the Dorseyville neighborhood, and multiple crews are focusing restoration efforts in this area. Entergy estimates that this area will be fully restored today. All customers along Hwy 70 were restored Thursday; however, an overnight outage caused by a downed power line resulting in some customers to lose power. Estimated restoration time for these customers along Hwy 70 is 3 p.m. today.

St. James Parish

Convent

Additional crews continue assisting with restoration efforts making damage repairs along Schexnayder Lane, Water Tower Street, Esther Road, a small portion of Central School Road and at Sugar Hill RV Park. Approximately 300 customers remain without power. All customers that can take power safely will be restored today.

Lutcher

Additional crews continue assisting with restoration efforts to repair a broken pole in a rear alley; this location required special equipment to complete repairs. This outage affects 47 customers in the Belle Rue Subdivision. All customers that can take power safely will be restored today.

St. John the Baptist Parish

Laplace

Additional crews continue assisting with restoration efforts including damage repairs in the Cambridge Subdivision, Riverlands Subdivision and Rosedown Street. All customers that can take power safely will be restored today.

Where to get info

Customers are encouraged to download Entergy's mobile app at entergyapp.com to access outage maps and information. In addition, online services are available to customers through "Entergy Storm Center," "myAccount" and "View Outages." Through myAccount, customers can sign up to send and receive text information about power outages at their homes and businesses through their cellphones. Registration is easy.

Safety

Please be mindful of the following:

· Live wires can be deadly. Stay away from downed power lines. Call 1-800-9OUTAGE (1-800-968-8243) to report downed or dangling power lines, poles or other damaged equipment.

· Don't 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 home main electric panel.

· Do not run a generator in a confined space without adequate ventilation.

Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers and natural gas service to approximately 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the company is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11.5 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

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