Entergy’s Louisiana has asked customers to voluntarily reduce electricity consumption, especially between 5pm and 9pm Monday, in an effort to avoid the kind of power outages that have left millions without power in Texas.
Temperatures in southern Louisiana are forecast to drop to the low 20s Fahrenheit on Monday night as the winter storm continues to sweep through the region.
Texas stands for ‘rolling blackouts’. Here’s what it means and what can happen in Louisiana.
“This unusual request is due to the demand for electricity that could potentially exceed the available generation due to the extreme cold and weather conditions currently affecting our service area,” Entergy said in a press release yesterday afternoon.
Entergy reported late Monday afternoon that more than 94,000 customers were without electricity in Louisiana. About half of the interruptions were customers in East Baton rouge, with several thousand others in the Tangiphahoa, Livingston and Ascension congregations.
Jefferson Parish also still showed about 5,000 without power, mostly concentrated in areas of Kenner, the shores of the airport near the Esplanade shopping center and the lake of West Esplanade Avenue, west of the Elmwood Canal.
In New Orleans, only a few minor disruptions were reported in the Gentilly area and other areas with only a few dozen customers affected.
The cause of disruptions in Louisiana so far is mainly due to sawn-off trees and ice on the lines.
Frozen pipes, burst water supply, boiling water order possible amid winter storm, officials say
In Texas, widespread outages for Entergy customers in the southeast, mainly around Houston, and for customers from other suppliers across the state, are due to the outflow of power outages, as power outlets have taken overload generators offline to prevent more widespread loss. of force.
“Current cargo forecasts are approaching an all-time high, even greater than those experienced during the January 2019 polar vortex,” Entergy said in a press release on Monday.
The local supply system – Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO – has asked Entergy to ask customers to reduce their use this afternoon and evening.
Entergy, Cleco reports thousands without power in Louisiana as winter storm hits
“If the power supply cannot meet the demand, periodic power outages are needed to prevent an extended power outage that could last longer,” Entergy said, adding that the request does not apply to elderly customers or those with special health needs. . .
Customers are advised to lower thermostats to 68 degrees and use fans to distribute heat efficiently. Delay the use of laundry and dishwashers, baths and other non-essential uses of electricity.