Entergy New Orleans is committed to delivering safe and reliable service through ongoing investments in transmission infrastructure that strengthens the electric grid and reduces the risk of outages. This commitment was demonstrated with the successful completion of essential transmission substation equipment repairs and maintenance at the Napoleon Substation.
To perform this work, Entergy utilized a highly skilled bare-hand crew. This elite team of linemen is trained to safely service and restore energized high-voltage transmission lines. Conducting maintenance on live lines reduces the necessity for prolonged outages, allowing substations to operate as usual and preserving uninterrupted service for customers.
Throughout the project, the crew successfully completed repairs to our high voltage transmission line switches and protective relaying components. By utilizing bare-hand techniques, we were able to avoid a scheduled outage that could have potentially impacted up to 12,000 customers in the Uptown, Garden District, and Irish Channel neighborhoods. Maintaining energized conditions further mitigates operational risks by preventing potential system instability associated with coordinated outage-based repairs.
“These specialized bare-hand crews play a critical role in our ability to complete complex transmission work without interrupting service to our customers,” said Anthony Tamporello, substation superintendent at Entergy New Orleans. “Their advanced training allows us to safely work on energized systems, which significantly reduces the need for planned outages while improving the reliability of service for our customers.”
The bare hand crew recently completed reliability work in New Orleans East, where bare-hand crews replaced insulators on several water-crossing transmission circuits. These upgrades strengthened the system and enhanced long-term regional reliability.
“These upgrades are key to maintaining a resilient and reliable electric grid,” said Joshua Rollins, operations coordinator at Entergy Louisiana. “By proactively replacing or upgrading critical infrastructure, we can prevent we can identify potential issues before they develop into service interruptions, boost system performance, and ensure reliable power delivery.”
This project was accomplished through the coordinated efforts of skilled personnel and valued partners. North Houston Pole Line provided expert contract support, while our Metro Substation Team contributed technical assistance to ensure successful project execution.
By executing this work on energized lines and minimizing service interruptions, Entergy New Orleans continues to demonstrate our commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and resilient power to the communities it serves.
