Entergy Louisiana expects it will be about two to three weeks before power is available to customers in the Lake Charles area. CEO Phillip May says the infrastructure damage sustained in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes was substantial.
“We have nine transmission lines that come into and feed this area,” said May. “All nine lines have been nearly destroyed.”
May expects work crews will energize the first of its transmission lines into Lake Charles in two weeks and while transmission lines are being rebuilt, other crews will work to restore substations and the distribution system.
When the first transmission line is rebuilt, the priority is to reenergize other transmission facilities like the Calcasieu Plant and Lake Charles Power Station. May says these generating sources will allow Entergy Louisiana to power some critical infrastructure and essential services such as hospitals, other utilities and public safety, as well as restoration of some customers.
May says the company is also aggressively exploring other opportunities to jump-start the power flow in Lake Charles by enabling generators located int eh city to begin producing electricity without the need for a transmission source to provide start-up power.
A breakdown of the damaged infrastructure in southwest Louisiana includes 1,000 transmission structures, 6,637 broken poles, 2,926 transformers and 338 miles of downed distribution wire.
Photo courtesy of Entergy Louisiana.
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