NEW ORLEANS — From his front porch on Bonnabel Blvd., Stephen Dinsdale has a front-row view to change.
“It’s great entertainment," Dinsdale said, "Those poor guys working in very hot temperatures. They’re doing a great job.”
This week, contractors began replacing old power poles with new infrastructure.
The utility is installing approximately nine steel poles and 30 wood poles that are designed to withstand 140 mph winds, as well as new crossarms, wire, and other equipment, according to Entergy Louisiana.
Entergy Louisiana said the work being done right now along Bonnabel is part of its resiliency plan. The utility said its goal is to replace and harden about 265 poles by the end of the year.
Public Service Commissioner for District 1, Eric Skrmetta, said the work is part of a statewide Entergy Louisiana project with a $1.9 billion price tag that was approved by the commission last Spring.
Skrmetta said part of the project includes replacing 7,000 poles in Jefferson Parish over the next four years.
“It also puts us in a position to where we take old infrastructure out that is not secured by really money damages to ones that will be, and that if any of these poles come down, Entergy will be responsible for payment back to the ratepayers of approximately $500 a pole. So, it’s an effective insurance policy as we move forward into the future," Skrmetta said.
The utility said it is upgrading infrastructure on these blocks this week:
- 900 – 1200 blocks of Bonnabel (between West Esplanade and Veterans)
- 900 – 1000 blocks of Hesper
- 1800 block of Feronia
- 900 block of Helios
While the work is being done, Dinsdale and his neighbors don't have power.
“Entergy hasn’t told me anything. There was no prior advice. No advice that the electricity would be cut off," Dinsdale said.
Not to mention, it's slowing down traffic on busy Bonnabel Blvd.
“To their credit, they’re stepping up and they’re doing their job," Skrmetta said, "But that doesn't matter if you’re hot, or if you’re cold, or if you’re unhappy, and I am completely sympathetic to that.”
Dinsdale agrees a day in the heat is worth the promise of more reliable energy.
“I’m glad they’re doing the improvement. Yeah, very glad," Dinsdale said.
Entergy Louisiana said there is a scheduled outage for approximately 90 customers on August 28 to complete the final construction steps. It will start at 8 a.m. and will last no later than 4 p.m. Customers who are affected by this outage will be notified, the utility said.
Entergy's planned outage map:
(Red icons show outages in progress, orange shows outages planned 1 week or less)
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