Entergy Louisiana to expand substation in Ponchatoula
Entergy Louisiana is working on a project to expand a substation in Ponchatoula as part of ongoing efforts to improve the electric system in the area.
The substation, located along Highway 22, serves approximately 18,000 residential and business customers in the area, including a local hospital.
Crews are expanding the substation yard, building a new control house and additional overhead equipment, and installing two new high-voltage breakers at the site. The work at the substation in Ponchatoula, in addition to work being done at substations in Hammond and Madisonville, will sectionalize the local electric system and make it more resilient.
Crews expect to finish the work in the spring.
The work at the substation in Ponchatoula is part of Entergy Louisiana’s ongoing efforts to improve its transmission and distribution systems in Tangipahoa Parish. Over the last two years, crews have upgraded more than two miles of power lines and built a new approximately half-mile power line west of Tickfaw that brought a new source of power to the area. In addition, crews have replaced or installed fuses, reclosers and regulators to improve the reliability of electric service in the Hammond, Independence, and Springfield areas.
Also, in the Ponchatoula area, crews strategically replaced utility poles and equipment like crossarms and insulators at the top of poles and installed five smart devices like reclosers and trip savers.
“We know our customers are counting on us to provide them with reliable power and that is exactly why we are continuing to invest in our electric system,” Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO, said. “We’re proud to serve many residents and businesses in Tangipahoa Parish and are committed to providing them with the electric service they expect.”
Looking ahead, Entergy crews will be upgrading nearly three miles of power lines along Esterbrook Road in the southeast portion of Ponchatoula and installing a new recloser.
