News Release > Entergy Texas completes project to improve service reliability in Port Arthur

Entergy Texas completes project to improve service reliability in Port Arthur

02/07/2024

The project consisted of infrastructure upgrades to help withstand extreme weather events as strong as a Category 4 hurricane

PORT ARTHUR, Texas – Entergy Texas recently completed a series of infrastructure upgrades that will help protect the City of Port Arthur from extreme weather events. The service reliability project consisted of upgrades designed to the newly developed extreme wind guidelines, which involved replacing approximately 240 old utility poles, replacing aging power lines with new wires and making additional improvements to the overall electrical system.

The upgrades were made in the downtown district along Proctor Street and Houston Avenue, as well as Lakefront Drive by Lamar State College Port Arthur. The completion of the project helps build a more resilient energy grid, since the equipment installed is designed to withstand weather events as a strong Category 4 hurricane.

“The reliability and resiliency that this project has brought to the city has been amazing,” said Ron Burton, Port Arthur city manager. “The upgrades will assist The Port of Port Arthur, city departments and Lamar State College Port Arthur. For the first time in years, the city was not affected by recent storms and cold weather that would normally cause outages."

The project was originally expected to cost approximately $7.2 million. However, through strategic planning and collaboration of various Entergy Texas teams, the project was completed under budget for $5 million.

“These upgrades will benefit customers by making the electrical system in the downtown district more reliable, reducing the risk of outages and improving the overall quality of the electrical system to allow for additional growth," said Jeremy Flowers, Entergy Texas operations coordinator.

To learn more about our reliability efforts, visit entergy.com/brightfuturetx/powering-texas.

About Entergy Texas
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to more than 500,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom.