News Release > Entergy New Orleans Completes First Phase of Transmission System Upgrade Project Ahead of Schedule

Entergy New Orleans Completes First Phase of Transmission System Upgrade Project Ahead of Schedule

09/20/2015

CONTACT:

Yolanda Pollard / Charlotte J. Cavell
504-670-3624
powertogrownola@entergy.com

Ninemile generation-Derbigny substation work begins Oct. 5

NEW ORLEANS - Crews have completed the first phase of technological upgrades to New Orleans' electric power transmission system - Ninemile generation-Napoleon substation - ahead of schedule. On Monday, Oct. 5, Entergy New Orleans, Inc. will begin the second phase - Ninemile generation-Derbigny substation - and expects to complete it by March 2016.

"Throughout the first phase, our top priority was to have a safe, accident-free environment for both the general public and project crews," said Charles Rice, president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, "and not only did we complete it safely, we did so earlier than originally planned. We extend our gratitude to the general public and our customers in the Audubon Park, upper Magazine Street and Annunciation Street areas for their cooperation, and we want all customers to know that the same safe, accident-free environment will be our top priority on the second phase as well."

Phase II affects the Carrollton-Hollygrove area, including Cambronne Street, through the outer portions of the Xavier University footprint.

Power to Grow NOLA informational meetings are scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave.; Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Total Community Action, 1416 S. Jefferson Davis Pkwy.; and Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Xavier University Convocation Center Annex, Room 111, 7800 Washington Ave.

"Entergy is committed to ensuring the timely delivery of information through multiple communications channels. Our Power to Grow NOLA website provides detailed project progress information and detour maps for our customers and the general public," said Toni Green-Brown, public affairs manager for Entergy New Orleans. "Customer service representatives will be visibly present and available for residents and business owners to ensure that everyone knows the location of the project work zones, safety procedures and timelines."

Customers in the impacted areas will receive specific information about the transmission line replacement procedure and how it will affect them. In addition, the Power to Grow NOLA project hotline (504-670-3624) and email address (powertogrownola@entergy.com) are available for customers to voice their project-specific questions and concerns.

On Oct. 5, multiple crews will work simultaneously on the designated streets and will use very large equipment including 24-foot-wide bucket trucks and 120-foot cranes at each of the existing steel transmission poles. Several stages of work will occur during each of the 20 project segments, and each stage of work will have different impacts. The initial stage, called a "pre-pull," may block traffic for up to half a day at each of the existing steel transmission poles. In the next stage, called the "pull," all automobile, bicycle and pedestrian traffic along the entire segment will experience temporary delays as the wire is pulled from one end to the other. Delays may last from 15 minutes up to two hours. No parking will be allowed along the work segments during this stage. However, safe crossings will be set up at strategic locations along the route to allow traffic to navigate safely through the work zone while the "pull" is taking place. After the "pull" is complete, Entergy bucket trucks and cranes will return to the steel pole locations to complete the "post-pull" work and may block traffic for up to half a day.

This transmission project represents a $30 million capital investment in the electric transmission infrastructure as Entergy prepares to deactivate the aging Michoud generating facility, which originally was placed into service during the 1960s. These upgrades are required by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator prior to the planned 2016 Michoud deactivation, and will enhance reliability, increase transmission capacity and help ensure the availability of affordable power now and into the future.

Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is an electric and gas utility that serves Louisiana's Orleans Parish. The company provides electricity to nearly 197,000 customers and natural gas to some 105,000 customers. Entergy New Orleans is a subsidiary 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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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In this news release, and from time to time, Entergy New Orleans, Inc. makes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Entergy New Orleans undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including (a) those factors discussed elsewhere in this news release and in Entergy New Orleans' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Entergy New Orleans' other reports and filings made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; (b) uncertainties associated with rate proceedings, formula rate plans and other cost recovery mechanisms; (c) uncertainties associated with efforts to remediate the effects of major storms and recover related restoration costs; (d) legislative and regulatory actions and risks and uncertainties associated with claims or litigation by or against Entergy New Orleans; (e) risks and uncertainties associated with strategic transactions that Entergy New Orleans may undertake, and (f) economic conditions and conditions in commodity and capital markets during the periods covered by the forward-looking statements.