LITTLE ROCK — Entergy Arkansas says its grid and crews are ready for summer storm season — and it wants customers to get ready, too.
Summer weather across Arkansas can bring heavy rain, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes, often with little warning. The utility said it works year-round to limit storm outages and restore power quickly, and it is urging customers to review emergency plans, sign up for weather and outage alerts, and make sure their contact information is current before severe weather arrives.
“As we head into the summer months, our focus remains on delivering safe, reliable and affordable energy to the communities we serve,” said Ventrell Thompson, the company’s vice president of customer service. “Our teams work year-round to strengthen our system, train our crews and enhance our emergency response plans so we can restore power quickly and safely when severe weather impacts our communities.”
Grid work and tree trimming
The company said its storm preparation includes infrastructure upgrades, smart grid technology and an ongoing vegetation management program — trimming and removing trees that could fall into power lines, one of the leading causes of outages during storms.
“Vegetation management is one of the most effective ways we can improve reliability for our customers,” Thompson said. “Combined with our broader grid investments, these efforts help us better withstand the types of storms we see across Arkansas.”
Ahead of this season, Entergy Arkansas said it has:
- Inspected and replaced damaged or aging utility poles.
- Inspected transmission lines, substations and power plants.
- Performed ongoing maintenance across the system.
- Conducted targeted tree trimming to reduce tree-related outages.
- Reviewed emergency response plans and pre-positioned crews and equipment.
Employees also spent the spring in storm response drills, logistics exercises and training built around the severe weather scenarios most common in Arkansas, the company said.
What customers can do now
Entergy Arkansas encourages customers to take a few steps before storms develop:
- Draft an emergency plan and put together a storm supply kit.
- Charge phones and other mobile devices ahead of storms.
- Sign up for outage alerts and download the Entergy mobile app.
- Verify contact information at myEntergy.com.
- Report outages through the app, online or by texting OUT to 36778.
“Summer storms in Arkansas can develop quickly and be unpredictable,” Thompson said. “We’re committed to preparing our system and our people, but preparation is a shared responsibility. When customers take these simple steps in advance, we’re all better positioned to weather whatever comes our way.”
Entergy Arkansas is part of Entergy, which serves more than 3 million customers across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
