Insights > Entergy Arkansas customers encouraged to prep for week ahead

Entergy Arkansas customers encouraged to prep for week ahead

By: Arkansas Editorial Team

01/14/2024

As extreme cold moves into the state this weekend, Entergy Arkansas is working hard to make sure customers can stay warm by preparing equipment and resources for the coming days. Power restoration during extreme cold can take longer due to increased demands on equipment, people and resources. We have crews available and equipped to respond to outages across our service territory. Restoring your power is our top priority as quickly and safely as possible in the event of power outages, and we appreciate your patience.

We also encourage our customers to plan for winter weather by prepping their home. Find more information here.

Be sure to report any outages to Entergy. Please be aware the restoration process can be hampered by the surge of instantaneous electrical demand from appliances (heating units, water heaters, etc.) commonly known as cold load when service is restored to your location, potentially overloading protective devices on Entergy’s electrical system. To help mitigate this problem, Entergy encourages you to turn off or disconnect any electrical heaters or electrical appliances that can easily be turned off until power is restored, and gradually power them on once power has been restored to your location.

Entergy Arkansas strives to provide the most up-to-date information about outages. The best way to get information is via Entergy’s View Outage page on our website. Customers with special needs or other circumstances are encouraged to plan for other accommodations, in the event of an outage.

We are mindful of those facing challenges in this harsh winter weather and will cease disconnects during sub-freezing temperatures and plan to do so at least through Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.

Thank you for being a valued Entergy Arkansas customer. Stay warm and connected as we navigate this season together.

Winter weather restoration process

As the winter storm impacts Arkansas, we will deploy scouts to assess damage in all affected areas. It is on 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. 

Extra weight on power lines caused by snow or ice can cause them to fall or stretch, possibly causing power interruptions. While Entergy Arkansas manages growth of trees and bushes near electrical equipment, one half-inch of ice can increase the weight of a tree limb as much as 30 times, causing even smaller limbs to bend or snap, falling onto power lines and causing an outage.

Please be aware the restoration process can be hampered by the surge of 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, Entergy encourages you to turn off any electrical heaters or electrical appliances that can easily be turned off until power is restored. 

Stay safe

Please watch for any power lines that have fallen into trees and onto the ground. Stay away from any downed power lines and report them to 1-800-Entergy.

Entergy Arkansas urges customers to keep safety first. Here are some tips to keep you safe while we restore your power.

• 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, damaged or downed 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. Again, stay away from downed 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, 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. Use them only outdoors, following all manufacturers’ safety guidelines.
• Turn off any electrical appliances that can easily be turned to the off position until power is restored.
• Try to stay off the roads in affected areas. More traffic in bad weather leads to more accidents, including more injuries and fatalities as well as accidents that can damage electrical poles and other equipment, creating outages and impeding the ability of crews to access and repair damage and slowing restoration. 

Stay informed

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. 

• Download our app for your smartphone at entergy.com/app or visit Entergy Storm Center to stay informed on our restoration progress.
• To ensure you receive notifications from Entergy, customers are encouraged to verify their contact information in their myEntergy account.
• Sign up for text alerts. From your cell phone, text REG 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.
• If a storm impacts your area, you can report an outage quickly and easily through our digital options – using either our free mobile app, online at myEntergy.com, or by texting OUT to 36778.

Warming Centers Opened for Customers
(information provided to Entergy Arkansas and subject to change)

For preparation tips and cold weather updates, visit entergy.com/cold.

For additional inclement weather tips and storm updates, visit entergy.com/stormcenter.

Tags

Arkansas  Storm Center  Winter Weather 

Arkansas Editorial Team