Entergy increases data offerings through meter upgrades in New Orleans, Baton Rouge
Entergy will begin installing smart communications modules on its gas meters around New Orleans and the greater Baton Rouge area, to provide more detailed information on natural gas use for customers.
In all, the company intends to roll out some 200,000 smart devices over the next year, along with some infrastructure improvements. Those improvements include the replacement of 11 miles of pipe in Baton Rouge per year through 2024. Another 26 miles of vintage piping materials have already been replaced in New Orleans, and Entergy intends to invest another $100 million into replacement efforts there in the future.
“This is a significant event for our company,” said Tad Patella, director of Entergy’s gas distribution business. “These smart modules are going to provide us with important data we need to continue to deliver a reliable product and allow our customers to more closely monitor their usage. We want to be more efficient in everything we do, and this meter install puts us on the path to accomplishing that.”
For the meters, the culmination point is expected to be reached at the end of 2021, with more than 3 million customers benefiting. Advanced meter installations began in January 2019. Going forward, they will also connect to new online tools for usage management and money saving.
