Entergy Louisiana investing more than $3M in Webster Parish

Entergy Louisiana announced Tuesday that it will be investing more than $3 million in Webster Parish to develop a stronger, more resilient electric system.

As part of the company’s commitment to providing reliable power, the upgrades will continue throughout the remainder of the year and into 2022 on a portion of the electric system stretching from Sarepta to Cotton Valley.

“Our objective is always to keep the lights on and prevent power outages before they occur, and we do that through a robust reliability program,” said Cindy Gordon, Entergy Louisiana customer service project manager. “I’m excited about the work we’re doing to build a more resilient electric system in Webster Parish. We want to not only meet our customers’ expectations but exceed them, and this is another example of how we’re working to achieve that goal.”

Upgrades to the system include substation enhancements and the installation of approximately 200 new utility poles and miles of powerlines. The company will also be installing smart devices like switches and reclosers, the company said. Reclosers work to sectionalize the electric system to prevent power outages while also helping to protect it from damage. The devices allow the system to keep power flowing after a temporary impact like a tree limb falling onto a powerline.

A majority of the work will take place along U.S. Highway 371, the company said, and motorists along that stretch of road should exercise caution while crews are working. Traffic would be diverted around the construction work where necessary, the company said.