Lingering ice continues to stress vegetation and power infrastructure causing delayed damage as crews work in extremely hazardous conditions. So far, restoration crews across Louisiana and Mississippi have worked diligently to restore power to more than one-third of customers following the severe winter weather system that passed through this weekend.

Safety is our 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.

Crews are working in extremely hazardous conditions, including uncovering energized power lines hidden beneath layers of ice and snow. As damage assessments continue, workers are replacing broken utility poles, reattaching downed and damaged wiring, and repairing or replacing crossarms that support power lines.

The storm disrupted electrical service for approximately 171,200 customers across our service territory. As of 6:30 a.m., approximately 65,210 customers (38%) impacted by this storm have been restored.

Approximate outages (as of 6:30 a.m.):

Operating company	Current outages	Peak outages	Restored	% Restored
Louisiana	67,690	91,490	23,800	26%
Mississippi	33,300	67,670	34,370	51%
Note: The figures above may include outages not related to the storm.

Louisiana and Mississippi were hardest hit.

Northern Louisiana, particularly along the I-20 corridor including Ouachita, was hit hard by ice and freezing rain, while parts of Mississippi, from Southaven to Natchez, also experienced severe winter conditions.

Accessibility challenges such as icy road conditions and freezing temperatures may affect our ability to reach some areas of our territory and could delay damage assessment and restoration in those communities.

In Louisiana and Mississippi:

• As of Jan. 27, at 9 p.m., distribution damage assessments show we have approximately 1,300 poles, 4,660 spans of wire and 310 transformers damaged.
• As of Jan. 26, at 11:30 a.m., transmission damage assessments show approximately 10 substations, 20 transmission lines and 330 miles of lines are out of service. Approximately 40 substations and 20 transmission lines have been returned to service.

Our crews are working long hours restoring service to customers as safely and as quickly as possible. 

Workforce mobilization ramped up quickly, starting with more than 4,000 workers on Jan. 23. By Jan. 24, that number grew to 9,400, including 4,800 mutual aid resources and peaked on Jan. 25 with more than 10,000 workers, including 4,900 mutual aid resources.

As restoration progressed and some areas were fully restored, the workforce was strategically reduced and reallocated to the hardest-hit regions, reflecting the transition from widespread response to targeted restoration efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi.

As of Jan. 28, at 6 a.m., we have approximately 6,740 restoration workers in place or mobilizing to restore service for customers across Louisiana and Mississippi, including 4,880 mutual assistance and contract resources brought on specifically to assist in restoration. These resources include company employees, contractors and mutual aid resources numbering approximately:

• 3,910 in Louisiana
• 2,830 in Mississippi

We restore power as quickly as it is safe to do so.

We know being without power can be very frustrating for you. The severe winter weather has passed, yet power outages remain as we continue our restoration. We understand how difficult it is to wait for power so you can get your lives back to normal.

We know you want your power restored, and we have started the process.

Occasionally we’ll restore power to an area only to find another issue. This may require us to turn off the power again in order to complete additional repairs. We will also make initial repairs in some areas in order to get the power flowing to as many customers as possible. We then have to go back, take customers out of service, and complete more long-term repairs.For example, crews in Louisiana recently had to restore power five separate times in one area due to ongoing damage uncovered during repairs. Situations like this can extend restoration timelines and lengthen workdays, encroaching on mandatory rest requirements for the safety of restoration workers.

• Our workforce will continue working safely to restore your power as quickly as possible. For safety reasons, customers are asked not to approach workers at job sites, as these areas can be dangerous and interruptions may slow restoration progress.