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Insights > Entergy Arkansas Winter Storm Update – 2/16/21 @ 10 a.m.
Entergy Arkansas Winter Storm Update – 2/16/21 @ 10 a.m.
02/16/2021
As the extremely cold winter weather continues, another round of snow will impact the state today and is expected to continue through Thursday. Temperatures in many locations across northern and western Arkansas have been between 10 and 20 degrees below zero. These extreme cold conditions and precipitation can create problems for an electric system and make for hazardous driving conditions, slowing restoration. As of 9:00 a.m., there were 22,000 customers without power. We have approximately 1,400 restoration resources, along with mutual assistance crews from outside the state, responding to outages quickly and as safely as possible as they occur. Our team will continue to practice social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this may slow restoration work.
We strongly request our customers limit electricity usage immediately and continue to do so until further notice. This unusual request is due to the demand for electricity potentially exceeding the available generation because of extreme cold and weather. Current load forecasts are approaching an all-time peak, exceeding those experienced during the polar vortex of January 2019. The company's reliability coordinator, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, has made this request to Entergy and other utilities in its footprint, including other utilities in our area.
Northeast Arkansas
White County
Crews are currently on-site and will be working to redistribute the load and restore power to the affected areas from Bald Knob, northwest towards Providence. With the current temperatures and road conditions, restoration may be delayed. Power will be restored as soon as weather conditions and electrical demand will allow.
Northwest Arkansas
Conway County
Crews are focused on repairing equipment north of Morrilton towards Solgohachia and Center Ridge which is causing outages in those communities. With the current temperatures and road conditions, power restoration may be delayed. Power will be restored as soon as weather conditions and electrical demand will allow.
Southwest Arkansas
Montgomery County
As of 8:00 a.m. February 16th, there are approximately 5,597 customers without power in the Mt. Ida and Montgomery County area. The outages are due to the demand for electricity exceeding the available generation because of extreme cold and weather conditions currently impacting this area. Electrical service will be restored as soon as weather conditions and electrical demand will allow.
Garland County / Hot Springs
As of 8:00 a.m. February 16th, there are approximately 2,128 customers without power in the Hot Springs and Garland County area. Most of the customers outages are in the Treasure Isle and Airport Road / Highway 270 area. The outages are due to the demand for electricity exceeding the available generation because of extreme cold and weather conditions currently impacting this area. Electrical service will be restored as weather conditions and related electrical demand will allow.
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If the power supply cannot meet the demand, then periodic load shed power outages would be needed to prevent an extensive power outage that could last for an extended period. Some ways we encourage customers to help include:
- Lower the central thermostat to 68 degrees and adjust window units accordingly.
- Use energy-efficient ceiling fans and portable fans to circulate the warm air to help with your comfort.
- Open blinds, drapes and curtains to let in warmth from the sun.
- Delay laundry, washing dishes, bathing and other non-essential uses of electricity until this appeal for conservation has ended.
- Wash clothes with cold water, cook foods at the lowest possible setting and refrain from opening the oven door while baking.
- Don’t allow warmed air to escape from the home.
For additional tips and cold weather updates, visit http://entergy.com/cold.
STORM RESTORATION PROCESS
If there are widespread outages, we will deploy scouts to assess damage in all affected areas. It is during these assessments that we base our estimated restoration times. 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.
Please be aware the restoration process can be hampered by large 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, we use a methodical and calculated process in bringing customers back online after an outage in very cold weather. Entergy encourages customers without power to help in the restoration process by turning off major appliances but leaving on a lamp or other light to indicate when power is restored. Then, gradually turn on other appliances to spread out the increase in power usage over a longer time.
- Rather than simply energizing an entire power line all at once, we must bring customers back online one section at a time to avoid damage to our system and make the situation worse.
- During cold temperature extremes, customers tend to use a lot of electricity to keep heating or other devices running. Electric heaters often will run continuously, creating a constant power demand.
- When power is disrupted during winter, many customers leave their heating systems and appliances turned on, creating too much energy demand all at once when we try to restore power.
- Restoring all customers on the same power line has the potential to create large, instantaneous power demands. The instant demand could be higher than the built-in protective devices on a line can handle.
- We have devices that protect our system during times of normal, day-to-day operations and power demand. During weather extremes, we must change our processes to protect our system and restore power in a way that best ensures safety and reliability for our customers.
- During extreme cold weather conditions, these specific restoration challenges are experienced not just by Entergy, but throughout the industry and the country.
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 and in control. The best way to get information about outages is via Entergy’s View Outage page on our website. Additional resources for your convenience:
- Download our app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app or visit Entergy Storm Center to stay informed on our restoration progress.
- Sign up for text alerts. From your cell phone, text R E G to 368374, or visit entergytext.com.
- Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @EntergyARK.
- Follow updates in your local news media, like radio, television and newspapers.
