Companies offer safety, money-saving and other tips

New Orleans, La. - As area residents get ready for Thanksgiving feasts, winter weather has arrived in the New Orleans area. And while the area will thankfully be spared much of the sleet and snow that could fall in surrounding states, Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is prepared to respond to any power outages caused by the large weather system that is expected to impact the area over the coming days.

"We're fortunate that current forecasts don't anticipate much impact from frozen precipitation in our service territory," said Dennis Dawsey, vice president of transmission and distribution operations in Louisiana. "But with heavy rain over most of the state, winds out of the north and freezing temperatures in some areas, we could be affected. Should the lights go out, crews are ready to restore power as quickly and safely as possible."

If an outage occurs, customers have a variety of ways to keep up with the latest information. Entergy's mobile app offers access to outage maps and information. In addition, storm-preparedness tips and online services are available to customers through Entergy Storm Center, myAccount and View Outages. Through myAccount, customers can sign up to send and receive text information about power outages at their homes and businesses through their cellphones.

Make Safety the First Priority

"We also urge customers to monitor the weather and prepare to implement their own winter storm plans if needed," Dawsey said. "As with any storm, safety is always our first priority and we want it to be yours too."

Here are some convenient tips. For more, visit Entergy's safety page.

  • Do not walk in standing water or venture into areas of debris since power lines that could still be energized and dangerous may not be visible. Call 1-800-9OUTAGE (1-800-968-8243) to report downed or dangling power lines, poles or other damaged equipment.

  • Keep away from fences and other objects that can become energized if they come in contact with downed power lines.

  • Make sure to review gas safety tips - especially if this is the first time your gas heater has been turned on this season - and have a licensed professional thoroughly check your heating system.

  • Maintain your outdoor pipes and have a licensed professional examine and clean your home's chimney.

  • Don't use candles or other flammable devices to warm your home.

  • Check on seniors, who can be particularly susceptible to extreme temperatures.

Stay Comfortable for Less

Besides urging customers to keep safety at the forefront, Entergy New Orleans also offers tips to help customers battle winter's chill, while still keeping a lid on energy bills:

  • Adjust the thermostat. During winter months, grab a sweater or a blanket to stay toasty, and set the thermostat to 68 degrees. Every degree higher can add 3 percent to your bill.

  • Conserve hot water. Wrap your electric water heater with a water heater blanket and set the thermostat to 120 degrees or medium.

  • Replace air and furnace filters every 30 days or as required by the type of filter.

  • When you change your light bulbs, replace them with energy-efficient models. Entergy recommends Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs that use 70 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

  • Seal air leaks. Install weather stripping around doors, windows and any location where there may be a path between the inside and outside of your home.

More tips, as well as clear, do-it-yourself videos, to help put these ideas to work can be found at entergyneworleans.com/savemoney.

Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is an electric and gas utility that serves Louisiana's Orleans Parish. The company provides electricity to more than 169,000 customers and natural gas to more than 100,000 customers. Entergy New Orleans is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2013.

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