A new piece of equipment is helping Entergy Arkansas crews work faster, safer and more efficiently in some of the state’s most challenging terrain as the company continues investing in the next generation of Arkansas.

Entergy Arkansas recently added a Center Rock Inc. Low-Profile Cluster Drill to its fleet. It’s a powerful new tool designed to speed up pole replacements in rocky conditions commonly found across Arkansas.

“We have very rocky terrain here in the state, so digging a rock hole is a big challenge for us,” said Darrin Pledger, Entergy Arkansas fleet maintenance supervisor. “It takes a lot of time and manpower.”

The new cluster drill uses multiple hammering components working simultaneously to break apart solid rock, dramatically reducing the time required to prepare a pole location.

“It’s very efficient,” he said. “It just pulverizes the rock into a sand-like substance and allows the linemen to set the pole in a safe but effective manner.”

According to Pledger, what once could take five to six hours can now be accomplished in less than 30 minutes.

“The traditional drilling of a hole with a traditional auger truck could take hours upon hours,” he said. “You can take this cluster bit and drill a hole in less than a half hour.”

The investment supports Entergy Arkansas’s Next Generation Arkansas vision, the company’s long-term plan to deliver Better Power to customers. Entergy Arkansas aims to make the power grid stronger and more reliable with an initial goal to reduce power outages by at least 30% over the coming years.

The specialized drill will not only play a key role in reliability projects across the state, but it will also be used during emergency restoration efforts following severe weather events.

“Now we are able to expedite the pole replacements in these rock situations by cutting time down dramatically,” Pledger said. “That will get the lights back on faster for our customers.”

As Entergy Arkansas continues investing in technology and infrastructure improvements, tools like this are helping deliver on the company’s commitment to provide better power for the next generation.

For more information about Next Generation Arkansas visit our website.