With severe winter weather entering our service area this evening, it’s time for Entergy and our customers to complete last-minute preparations. We are prepared, and we want you to be prepared too.

• Our workforce is ready to respond to outages due to winter weather forecasted to affect parts of our service area in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We encourage you to finalize your preparations. For preparation and safety information, visit the Entergy Storm Center website.
  • Extremely cold weather across our region is expected to drive increased energy usage over the next few days. We continue to monitor weather and grid conditions around the clock and are prepared to respond quickly to ensure reliable delivery of power to our customers.
  • The impact of ice storms is very difficult to predict, but forecasts indicate the approaching weather system could bring a mix of ice, snow and freezing rain in Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas, while Louisiana is more likely to experience extremely cold temperatures along with freezing rain and sleet beginning Friday evening.
  • If outages occur, we ask for patience, as restoration may take longer due to icy conditions that can delay crews from safely getting to work.
  • We’ve learned from winter weather events in the past and have taken measures in advance to ensure we are winter-ready.
• We are actively securing workers to assist in restoration efforts from around the country. However, given the large footprint of the storm across the region, securing these additional assets may prove more difficult than normal.
  • In addition to our internal workforce, we have more than 4,000 restoration workers mobilizing to restore service for customers across our service area. These resources include company employees, contractors and mutual aid resources.
  • These resources will be relocated throughout the restoration event as needed to restore service to affected customers. We are in contact with other utilities and contract workers to pre-position as many out-of-state utility crews as possible to quickly move in to help restore service.
• Crews have been busy at work across our service areas doing proactive vegetation trim work to prevent outages that could be driven by ice accumulation on vegetation. Due to the current forecast, we are focusing additional resources to patrolling and responding to any potential vegetation problem areas.
• Predicting outages caused by winter storms is challenging. Areas of freezing temperatures and precipitation can vary widely, with just a few degrees of difference between what’s predicted and what actually happens.
• We model anticipated damage and are working through our checklists, have opened local command centers, are stocking up on needed materials, readying our trucks for driving on snow and ice, organizing the manpower, and arranging for food and lodging for the crews.
• Safety is a core value and always comes first. Then, restoring power is the top priority and first order of business. We assemble and organize the workforce needed to restore service safely and quickly to all customers.

Monitoring energy usage

• Extremely cold weather across our region is expected to drive increased energy usage over the next few days. Entergy continues to closely monitor the weather, our equipment and grid conditions. We are taking appropriate steps to ensure reliable delivery of power to our customers.
• The cold weather has caused MISO, the electric grid operator for the central United States, to issue a cold weather alert for our region effective midnight Thursday through Tuesday.
• MISO has also ordered conservative operations to start Friday at 7 p.m. through Tuesday.
• We continue to work closely with MISO to monitor grid conditions and prepare generators accordingly. We are prepared to address the anticipated demand.

Customers should stay aware and stay safe.

• The most dangerous part of a storm is often just after it has passed. Hazards are all around us following severe winter weather – from downed electric lines and equipment or personal generator risks.
  • Personal generators are very useful following a winter storm, but they also can be hazardous. The primary hazards to avoid when using a generator are carbon monoxide poisoning from toxic engine exhaust, electric shock or electrocution and fire.
  • Drive only on roadways and bridges that are passable, and if a power line falls on your vehicle while driving, continue to drive away from the line.
• Customers can learn more about storm safety on the company’s Storm Center website, for example:

• Get prepared: Make a plan, make a kit.
• Your mobile phone: A lifeline during a disaster.
• Stay informed: Stay storm ready.
• Stay safe: Safety after the storm.
• Generator safety: Know the hazards.
• Food safety: Avoid loss and risk of illness.
• Extreme cold: Keep an eye out for others.

• Several online resources are available to help you stay safe during severe winter weather.
  • Hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature) and frostbite are both dangerous conditions that can happen when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures. More information on recognizing and preventing these conditions is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Protect yourself and your loved ones during a winter storm, especially by safely heating and lighting your home, operating a generator safely, and ensuring the warmth of babies and older adults.
  • Protect your home and car during a winter storm.
  • How to survive a power outage in winter – information from AccuWeather.com on how to stay warm and reduce risk.
  • Information from ready.gov – dangers of winter weather, what to do if under a winter storm warning and how to stay safe when winter weather threatens.

We’re here to help

• In anticipation of extreme cold temperatures extending into early next week, disconnections for non-payment have been suspended for all customers through Monday, Jan. 26, at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops.
• We are committed to delivering affordable, safe power to the communities we serve and helping customers manage their electric usage to generate savings on their bill. For customers struggling to pay their bill, we offer payment arrangements and flexible payment options to help them pay their energy bill. Customers are encouraged to visit billtoolkit.entergy.com for additional resources. They can also reach out to us to manage their account online at myEntergy or by calling 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) for assistance.

Additional Points:

• There are various warming centers open across Arkansas for those in need of shelter and warmth. Customers are encouraged to tune into their local media stations for more information.