Louisiana utility completes transmission project

Entergy Louisiana announced this week that it had completed the Lake Charles Transmission Project, representing one of the largest single transmission projects in the company’s history.

Upon completion of the project, customers are now being served by a stronger, more resilient electric grid that included construction of two new substations, expansion of two others while adding 25 miles of high-voltage 500-kV and 230-kV transmission lines.

“A strong, modern electric grid not only improves reliability, it helps create jobs and growth for the entire state,” Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana, said. “The Lake Charles Transmission Project, one part of a multi-phased resiliency project, is essential to meeting today’s power demands and keep pace with Louisiana’s economic growth. Our investments will enhance reliability, improve efficiency across the state and expand our load serving capability throughout South West Louisiana.”

The Lake Charles project is one of three recent resiliency projects for Entergy Louisiana completed to date in 2018, officials said, adding the Oakville-Alliance transmission project included the rebuilding and expansion of the Oakville substation to construct a 230-kV transmission path between one of Entergy Louisiana’s substations in Jefferson Parish and a substation in Plaquemines Parish.

Entergy Louisiana provides electric service to more than 1 million customers and natural gas service to nearly 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area.