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Insights > Hurricane Laura Restoration Update - 8/27/20 @ 4 p.m.
Hurricane Laura Restoration Update - 8/27/20 @ 4 p.m.
08/27/2020
At 4 p.m., 540,400 customers were without power, including:
Louisiana – 262,000
Texas – 231,000
Mississippi – 5,400
Arkansas – 42,000
Customers may see extended power outages. Given the intensity of this storm and the additional need for our crews to follow COVID-19 precautionary measures, hardest hit areas may experience outages for weeks. In addition, restoration may be hampered by flooding, blocked access or other obstacles. Click here to learn more about our restoration process.
Due to the volume of outages and post-storm assessment status, the red/green lines on our outage maps may show discrepancies. When this happens, we switch to an “area view” and provide detailed restoration updates in the alert banner at the top of the map, updated twice daily.
We continue acquiring more resources for our restoration teams, with more than 16,750 currently ready to restore service for customers whose power may be affected by Laura. These resources include company employees, contractors and mutual aid resources numbering 590 in Arkansas, 362 in Mississippi, 9,876 in Louisiana and 5,893 in Texas. These can be relocated as needed to restore service to affected customers.
Due to damage to our transmission system, Entergy has started periodic power outages among some of its Texas customers north of Houston. Additionally, the company is appealing to all Texas customers to reduce their use of electricity. Our company is taking these actions as directed by our reliability coordinator, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), as a last resort and in order to prevent a more extensive, prolonged power outage that could severely affect the reliability of the power grid. These actions also affect other customers in Texas outside of our service territory.
MISO is directing actions to be taken to restore the system to normal operations as quickly as possible and will direct Entergy to stop the periodic outages as soon as the power shortfall no longer threatens the integrity of the rest of the electrical power system.
The unusual circumstance is the result of extensive damage to Entergy’s transmission system caused by Hurricane Laura in east Texas and west Louisiana and the anticipated high demand for electricity due to high temperatures.
Hurricane Laura damaged conductors, wooden and steel towers in key transmission lines needed to bring electrical power from the east. Company employees and mutual assistance crews are working extended hours to restore the transmission system and eliminate the need for periodic power outages and for customers to reduce electricity usage.
MISO comprises a pool of electricity generators and users that stretches from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and as reliability coordinator is responsible for monitoring the portion of the electric grid it oversees and providing instructions to its members regarding actions needed to maintain reliability in that portion of the grid. In extreme and unusual circumstances, such actions may include periodic outages of the type occurring today.
Some ways customers can reduce their electricity usage include:
- Raise the central air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees. Window units should be adjusted accordingly.
- Use energy efficient electric ceiling fans and portable fans to circulate air and help occupants feel cooler.
- Close window blinds, drapes and curtains to reduce warming in the home from direct sunlight.
- Check the air conditioner filter to be sure it is clean.
- Delay laundering clothes, washing dishes, bathing, etc. until later in the evening or early morning. These activities produce moisture and increase humidity in the house, making the air conditioner work harder.
- Wash clothes with cold water, cook foods at the lowest possible setting, and resist the temptation to open the oven door while baking.
- Do not allow cooled air to escape from the home. Check caulking around doors and windows. Close the fireplace damper. Fill holes and gaps where wiring and pipes enter the house.
- Make sure your clothes dryer and attic are vented properly.
