Entergy’s Louisiana Companies Send Restoration Workers to Arkansas

Crews will help restore power in the wake of winter storm

Baton Rouge, La. – Entergy’s Louisiana utility companies teamed up to send more than 250 restoration workers to Arkansas on Tuesday to help restore service to Entergy Arkansas, Inc. customers who lost power as a result of a winter storm that struck the state in the early hours of this morning. The storm is expected to continue through Wednesday.

The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for northern Arkansas that began Monday night and lasts through Wednesday night. The forecast calls for at least half an inch of ice in the area covered by ice storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service, though the forecast also says that some areas could get more than one inch of ice.

Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. and Entergy New Orleans, Inc. are sending 160 linemen and 44 scouts to the affected areas. They are being joined by another 20 distribution workers and 35 support personnel. Up to 45 contract workers are aiding restoration efforts. The crews are expected to be in Arkansas for about a week.

“We are glad to do our part in helping restore power for those people who are affected by the winter storm in Arkansas,” said Dennis Dawsey, vice president of Entergy’s Louisiana distribution operations. “Entergy Arkansas has come to the aid of our customers many times over the years, most recently after hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and we are glad to be able to help their customers now. One of the benefits of being part of the Entergy family is that we can help each other in times of need. Our employees take great pride in safely getting the lights back on as quickly as possible.”

Entergy’s utility companies participate in mutual assistance agreements with utility companies across the country as well as within the Entergy family. When Entergy companies need assistance after storms, restoration workers are sent to help safely restore power to customers. The Louisiana crews heading to Arkansas were drawn from work groups across the state, leaving enough personnel in Louisiana to manage routine day-to-day work.

Entergy’s Louisiana utility companies serve more than one million customers through the operating companies Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the companies are part of Entergy Corporation’s electric system serving 2.7 million customers in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.