Most of the time, people experience electricity in the simplest way possible: you flip a switch, and the lights come on. But behind that moment is an enormous amount of work, especially in a place like Louisiana, where the landscape itself presents unique challenges.
Resiliency isn’t just about fixing power after a storm. It’s about strengthening the system before storms arrive so communities can recover faster and experience fewer outages.
In some places, resiliency work looks like a typical construction project — crews arriving by truck with equipment and supplies. But in Louisiana’s coastal marsh, getting to the job site is an operation all its own. Crews may travel by boat for miles to reach a small dock, then transfer to a marsh buggy to travel across soft, waterlogged terrain. Along the way they navigate intense heat and extreme cold, thick mud, and wildlife common to the marsh, including wild pigs. It’s challenging work, but it’s necessary to make sure even the most remote parts of our grid are strong and reliable.
That’s the reality of a current resiliency project in coastal Louisiana. Entergy contractor Soggy Bottom Transmission and Distribution, a company that specializes in marine construction, is replacing 180 power poles across roughly 20 miles of marshland. Unlike traditional construction sites, these poles can’t simply be drilled into dry ground. Crews must drive them deep into the marsh to keep water out and ensure long-term stability. The work requires specialized equipment and a unique combination of expertise in transmission, distribution, and directional boring.
For many of the workers, the project is also about building careers and passing down knowledge.
Dylan McCoy, a lineman from Hammond, is seven months into his career and already on his fourth job assignment. For him, the marsh project is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with critical skills — from grounding techniques to operating bucket trucks — that will shape the future of his trade.
For Andrew Larsen of Independence, the work carries a deeper perspective. With 23 years as a lineman, he’s seen firsthand what major storms can do to Louisiana communities. He knows that strengthening the grid today can mean fewer families without power, air conditioning, or running water when the next storm arrives.
Projects like this are also an investment in keeping long-term costs down for customers. When major storms hit, utilities often have to bring in thousands of additional workers from across the country to help restore power quickly, not to mention the significant increase in the price of materials and equipment in the aftermath of major weather events.
The costs associated with these efforts, known as storm rider costs, are a direct result of bringing in additional crews and providing them with food, lodging, transportation, and safe places to rest after long restoration shifts. Entergy does not make a profit on these costs; they are a direct pass-through associated with storm recovery. By investing in resiliency ahead of time, the system can better withstand damage, helping to reduce both the scale and cost of restoration when storms occur.
Resiliency work may not always be visible to customers. Sometimes it happens miles into the marsh, far from roads and neighborhoods. But whether crews are working downtown or deep in coastal wetlands, the goal is the same: building a stronger grid that can withstand Louisiana’s toughest conditions and keep power flowing to the people who depend on it every day.
About the Entergy Louisiana resiliency program
In April 2024, the Louisiana Public Service Commission approved phase one of Entergy Louisiana’s five-year grid resilience plan, which includes projects to strengthen the state’s electric infrastructure. This plan aims to improve storm recovery, reduce restoration costs and enhance reliability for Louisiana communities and businesses. Expected benefits include around $1.2 billion in avoided restoration costs and faster post-storm recovery, with a projected benefit-cost ratio of nearly 9:1. For specific project details by region and regular updates, visit entergylouisiana.com/resiliency.
