News Release > Entergy Crews Quickly Responding as Strong Storm System Moves Across State

Entergy Crews Quickly Responding as Strong Storm System Moves Across State

04/27/2015

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Entergy crews are responding to extensive outages Monday as a strong line of storms packing strong wind gusts, tornadoes, large hail and frequent lightning strikes moved across south Louisiana, causing extensive damage to the state's power grid.

As of noon Monday, power was knocked out to 158,000 Louisiana customers, with some 83,000 of those in the Baton Rouge metro area. More outages are expected as the storm moves through New Orleans and the southeastern corner of the state.

"Our crews are out in force assessing damage and safely restoring power to customers as quickly as possible," said Dennis Dawsey, vice president of customer service. "The fast-moving storm has caused significant damage to our electric system, downing trees and power lines, but we are diligently working until all power is restored."

Where to get info

Customers are encouraged to download Entergy's mobile app at http://entergyapp.com/ to access outage maps and information. In addition, storm-preparedness tips and online services are available to customers through "Entergy Storm Center," "myAccount" and "View Outages." Through myAccount, customers can sign up to send and receive text information about power outages at their homes and businesses through their cell phones. Registration is easy.

Safety

Please be mindful of the following:

· Live wires can be deadly. Stay away from downed power lines. Call 1-800-9OUTAGE (1-800-968-8243) to report downed or dangling power lines, poles or other damaged equipment.

· Don't 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 home main electric panel.

· Do not run a generator in a confined space without adequate ventilation.

· Try to stay off the roads. 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 crews' ability to access and repair damage and slowing restoration.

Residents with damage to customer-owned equipment -- such as the meter base, external breaker box or weather head -- will need an electrician to make repairs before power can be restored to their property.

Entergy reminds customers to stay away from downed power lines. Report them by calling 1-800-9OUTAGE. For real-time progress on restoration work see the View Outages feature at entergy.com.

Entergy's Louisiana utility companies provide electric service to more than one million customers through the operating companies Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. and natural gas service to nearly 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area through Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the companies are subsidiaries of Entergy Corporation.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $12 billion and approximately 13,000 employees.

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