News Summary
Extreme temperatures have led Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans to implement periodic power outages affecting over 100,000 customers. The outages are necessary to prevent a larger electrical crisis as demand for power surged. With communication efforts in place, Entergy is committed to restoring normalcy while managing the challenges presented by increased energy consumption and generator complications. Customers can stay updated through the Entergy app and text alerts.
New Orleans – Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans have initiated periodic power outages due to a directive from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). The outages aim to prevent a larger crisis within the electrical system as demand for electricity soared in recent days, driven by extreme temperatures. Customers may experience multiple outages depending on prevailing conditions, but these measures were deemed necessary to maintain power grid reliability.
The outages commenced around 4:30 p.m. on a Sunday, impacting over 100,000 customers, particularly on the East Bank of New Orleans and in parts of Jefferson Parish. In New Orleans alone, approximately 52,000 customers were affected. Locations suffering outages included Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines parishes. MISO has categorized the situation as a response to both planned and unplanned outages which challenged transmission and generation stability, prompting the load-shedding order.
MISO has worked closely with Entergy to restore normal operations swiftly, promising to direct Entergy to stop the periodic outages as soon as the shortfall in power generation is resolved. In the meantime, Entergy has committed to keeping lines of communication open with their communities, advising customers to download the Entergy app and sign up for text alerts for updates during outages.
The situation became particularly critical as Entergy faced complications with their generators, one of which was offline for routine maintenance and another that malfunctioned. Consequently, MISO ordered Entergy to shut off 600 megawatts to stabilize the electric system. This directive, implemented as a last-resort measure, was crucial in preventing a total blackout of the power grid.
Even local events were affected; for instance, the Greek Festival along Bayou St. John had to operate on a cash-only basis due to disruptions caused by the power outages. While officials in the city expressed frustration over the MISO’s lack of timely notification regarding the outages, Entergy pledged to improve communication and better understand the sudden load-shed order issued by MISO.
Power was eventually restored to most affected customers later that same evening. Entergy Louisiana serves over 1.1 million customers statewide, while Entergy New Orleans provides service to more than 209,000 customers. Despite the difficulties posed by the intense heat and increased energy demand, efforts are underway to ensure that the power supply stabilizes without compromising overall reliability in the future.
As MISO continues to monitor the situation, both Entergy agents and the communities they serve remain patient and informed, navigating the effects of the extreme weather and vigorous demands on the electrical grid. Entergy assures its customers of ongoing efforts to mitigate such challenges in the future while maintaining clear communication during outages.
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