Motorists Urged to Drive Cautiously in Work Areas

Orange, Texas - For the next two months, Entergy Texas, Inc. customers in the McLewis area of Orange County can expect to see contract workers removing vegetation that could cause problems for their electric service.

Work was scheduled to begin this week along a power line out of the McLewis Substation on Highway 62 in Orange County. The line is almost 51 miles long and serves more than 1,200 customers.

"Our goal is to keep the lights on for our customers," said Johnny Trahan, customer service representative for Orange County. "A key part of that is keeping a schedule so all of our power lines receive regular vegetation maintenance. This helps ensure that limbs and other vegetation are cleared away in order to minimize power interruptions to our customers. When we conduct this cycle of trimming, we will also assess trees that may be outside our right of way, but that are in poor condition and close enough to fall into the lines."  While crews will be in highly-visible bucket trucks and other specialized equipment, customers can expect to see crews working manually to remove vegetation.

Drivers in the area are urged to be alert for the workers and use caution when nearing work areas.

In 2013, Entergy Texas workers trimmed more than 1,900 line miles of trees.

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to more than 420,000 customers in 27 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation's leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.            

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