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Insights > Entergy Mississippi Winter Storm Update – 2/19/21 @ 7 p.m.
Entergy Mississippi Winter Storm Update – 2/19/21 @ 7 p.m.
02/19/2021
Crews continue to focus on safely restoring power after this week’s unprecedented winter storm caused power outages for about 1/5 of Entergy Mississippi’s customers. At peak, about 90,000 customers were without power. As of 5 p.m. we have restored service to more than 42,000 customers. Nearly 48,000 customers remain without power, primarily in the central and southern portions of our service area.
The aftermath of wintry conditions continues to cause outages. Frozen precipitation and wind have caused tree limbs to fall and create new outages. Some additional outages and damage have resulted from vehicles sliding on icy roads into power poles. These treacherous conditions and other accessibility challenges are affecting our ability to reach some areas and delaying restoration.
So far, damage assessors have identified 111 broken poles, 652 spans of wire down and 28 damaged transformers. We have brought in additional resources to help with restoration efforts. Our workforce includes more than 2,200 lineworkers, contractors and support staff. Assistance crews have come from Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Canada, among other locations. While crews are restoring power as quickly and safely as possible, we expect it will take several days.
There will be a growing demand for more electricity as we restore service to customers, and we must continue our cold weather restoration processes to manage instantaneous demand. Customers without power can 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 period of time.
The demand for power remains extremely high during this period of sustained cold weather and continues to strain the electric grid. We ask customers not affected by outages to keep minimizing energy usage as much as possible until the extreme cold weather passes.
Use these tips to stay safe, stay in touch and conserve energy:
Safety
- Stay away from downed power lines. You can’t tell from looking at them whether they are energized or not, so assume they are. Report them to 1-800-9OUTAGE.
- Report your power outage online or call 1-800-9OUTAGE. If you report your outage by phone, trust the automated system. There is no need to speak with a customer service representative to report an outage.
- If you have a portable generator, use it safely. DO NOT run it in an enclosed space. If connecting to the whole house, do so only if the connection has been installed by a licensed electrician. More information is available on Entergy Stormcenter.
- Stay clear of linemen as they work. Our crews continue to practice social distancing and we ask that customers do the same.
Stay in touch
- Download the Entergy app for Apple or Android operating systems at Entergy.com/app.
- Register for address-specific alerts by texting REG to 36778. Customers will need an account number and ZIP code. Once registered, text OUT to 36778 to report an outage.
- Follow Entergy Mississippi at Facebook.com/EntergyMS or Twitter.com/EntergyMS.
- Follow updates in local news media, including radio, television and newspapers.
Conserve energy
- Keep warm, not hot. Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees. When possible, wear additional layers of clothing.
- Unplug electronic devices and turn off lights that are not in use.
- When the sun is shining, open blinds, drapes and curtains to let in the sun’s warmth.
- Hold off on doing chores. Delay laundry, washing dishes and other non-essential uses of electricity.
- Wash clothes with cold water, shower quickly instead of taking a bath, 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.
We appreciate your patience and your conservation efforts. For more tips and storm updates, visit entergy.com/winterweather.
