Insights > Crews enhance reliability with electric system improvements in Florida Parishes

Crews enhance reliability with electric system improvements in Florida Parishes

09/03/2024

Jason Daniels, an Entergy Louisiana lineworker based out of the Bogalusa area, installs a programmable device at the intersection of Frederick and Morris roads in Hammond.
Jason Daniels, an Entergy Louisiana lineworker based out of the Bogalusa area, installs a programmable device at the intersection of Frederick and Morris roads in Hammond.

Entergy Louisiana is taking steps to reduce power outages and enhance the reliability of its electric system in several Florida Parishes, including Tangipahoa, Livingston and St. Tammany parishes. Crews are actively installing hundreds of programmable devices and performing critical infrastructure improvements aimed at minimizing service disruptions for customers in these areas.

Approximately 400 programmable devices are being deployed at around 275 strategic locations throughout the distribution system. These devices introduce automation to the electric grid, allowing it to maintain power during temporary impacts, such as those caused by falling tree limbs or animal contact. This approach is particularly effective in areas with dense vegetation, like Hammond, and can help reduce both the frequency and duration of outages.

The use of these programmable devices not only enhances service reliability but also improves operational efficiency. By reducing the need for bucket truck dispatches, Entergy Louisiana can allocate resources more effectively, allowing servicemen to focus on other essential tasks.

In addition to the deployment of these devices, Entergy Louisiana crews are carrying out extensive system upgrades in areas like Ponchatoula. On Esterbrook Road, for instance, nearly 100 utility poles are being replaced, around three miles of power lines are being upgraded with added capacity for future growth and reclosers—a smart device that functions similarly to the programmable devices—are being installed. These enhancements are expected to be completed by mid-September.

Entergy Louisiana remains committed to continuous improvement of its power grid. Whether it is through tree trimming, vegetation management or infrastructure upgrades, the company’s efforts to strengthen the grid are ongoing and vital to ensuring reliable service for all customers. For more information about the work being done to improve system reliability, visit  https://www.entergy.com/reliability/.

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Louisiana Editorial Team