In the wake of historic winter weather conditions in Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans are proud to share the results of extensive preparation and response efforts during the event. Despite record-low temperatures and snowfall, the company’s systems and teams proved resilient, minimizing the impact on customers across the state.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in Louisiana shattered historic lows, by more than 10-degrees in some locations, accompanied by significant snowfall in some areas. In Greater New Orleans alone, snowfall totals climbed to over 8-inches, eclipsing the previous known record of just 2.7-inches set back in 1963 (reliable data was not kept until 1948). Southwest Louisiana and the Capital Region also saw record-setting weather with some sites totaling one-foot of snow.
Despite these conditions, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans experienced peak outages of just approximately 6,500 and 2,400 customers, respectively.
“Our teams worked tirelessly in preparation and in in the face of unprecedented weather challenges,” said Jason Willis, vice president of reliability for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans. "I want to personally thank our crews for their dedication and sacrifice during this event, as well as our customers for their patience and support as we worked to restore power safely and quickly when called upon."
To assist in the restoration efforts, more than 2,750 workers were on-hand to support our communities statewide.
The winter storm brought unique challenges, including icy roadways, downed tree limbs, and the strain of cold-load pickup, an increase in energy demand as power is restored to areas impacted by extreme cold. However, through proactive measures, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans ensured that restoration efforts remained efficient and effective.