From low-tech to high-tech, Entergy Texas does what it takes to ensure and
improve service reliability
The Woodlands, Texas – Since early this year, contractors have been in cities
and rural communities throughout Southeast Texas conducting reliability
inspections of more than 30,000 utility poles spread throughout the Entergy
Texas, Inc. service area. The initiative is only one of many such projects the
utility will tackle this year in an effort to maintain and improve the
reliability of the company’s electrical service.
“In maintaining and improving the integrity of our electrical infrastructure,
we have dozens of tools we use, including everything from high-tech infrared
sensors to visual inspections of poles,” said Vernon Pierce, Entergy Texas vice
president of customer service. “Our customers count on us to deliver safe,
reliable and affordable electricity to their homes, schools and businesses, so
we invest in tools and technology to reduce outages.”
Osmose Utilities Services, Inc., a specialist in its field, was selected to
perform the routine preventative maintenance work. Each year, a portion of the
company’s half-million poles are selected to undergo a rigorous scrutiny to
ensure their condition.
The poles are visually inspected for defects, then sounded to find any
internal voids or hollow cavities. This means the inspectors need access to
every pole, whether on a main easily-accessible roadway or in a narrow alley
behind a home or business.
Some poles may be treated with a preservative at the base of the pole to
prevent deterioration. Others identified as needing maintenance will be reported
to Entergy Texas for corrective action.
Entergy Texas, Inc. delivers electricity to more than 426,000 customers in 27
counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy is an integrated
energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail
distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with
approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more
than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power making it one of the nation’s leading
nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility
customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
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entergytexas.com
Twitter: @EntergyTX
Facebook: Facebook.com/EntergyTX