Entergy’s Storm School Teaches Local Leaders How it Prepares for Hurricane Season

New Orleans, La. – Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is ready for the hurricane season and today the company held a “storm school” to discuss it preparations and what it takes to restore power after a major hurricane.

“Preparing for hurricane season is an ongoing process for Entergy,” said Rod West, president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, Inc. “Entergy’s employees embrace a preparedness mindset and know that being storm-ready is the key to a safe and quick response for our customers.”

During the event today at Entergy’s Bushnell Training Center in Westwego, La., Entergy New Orleans representatives reviewed its emergency-response plans with emergency agencies and political leaders at the local, state and federal levels. The company also took the opportunity to educate the attendees about the process for restoring power through hands-on demonstrations.

“Replacing a single damaged pole, cross arm or transmission line is difficult, dangerous, and time-consuming,” said West. “When you multiply that by 10,000 poles, cross arms or transmission line segments all at once, you begin to understand how challenging a task it is to accomplish restoration safely and within a reasonable time for our customers. Entergy proves every year why it is the best in the business at restoring power after a major weather event.”

Entergy is the only utility in the nation to win the top awards from the Edison Electric Institute for emergency response or emergency assistance 11 years in a row.

Entergy is taking action for the 2009 hurricane season by protecting the system from a potential hurricane. The company:

* Performed detailed hurricane and tabletop drills to test all functions of the company’s emergency-response teams;
* Will perform tree trimming on 2,299 line miles regionally to reduce storm-induced power outages and to protect vital equipment;
* Will continue to use infrared technology to evaluate priority customer facilities such as hospitals and police stations;
* Inspected 65 feeders including nearly 400 capacitor banks and 66 reclosers;
* Educated 1.1 million customers throughout Louisiana with bill inserts about hurricane preparedness; and,
* Renewed and strengthened mutual assistance agreements, contractor alliances and partnerships with key governmental agencies.

“We prepare for the worst but hope for the best,” said Entergy “Storm Boss” Randy Helmick, vice president of transmission. “Responding to a hurricane or ice storm is critical to our customers, and we work very hard to be the best.”

Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is an electric and gas utility serving Orleans Parish and is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. The company provides electricity to more than 141,000 customers and natural gas to more than 92,000 customers in Orleans Parish.