NEW ORLEANS, Sept 07, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall

 

Entergy Gas Operations assessment and restoration teams are working in New Orleans doing assessment to determine the extent of the damage to its gas system. Today, Entergy assessment and restoration workers are in the French Quarter, Uptown and Algiers. They will move into other areas of the city as flood waters are pumped out and more of the city becomes accessible. Areas that are damaged will be identified for repairs and those repairs will be prioritized and worked to return the system to normal operation.

Since the flooding, several fires have broken out in the city and Entergy Gas Operations personnel have responded to many of these fires. Our responders report that of the large fires they have investigated there is no indication that they have been related to natural gas. We have checked the areas near those fires to verify there are no gas leaks. We are doing similar assessments throughout the city.

We have seen a limited number of small gas fires in unoccupied areas surrounded by water. They pose no significant immediate threat to public safety. Entergy is monitoring these fires and is working to repair these leaks.

Entergy may have to shut off gas service in some areas of the city before repairs can be made. We have already shut off gas to New Orleans East and the Ninth Ward because we suspect those areas may have more damage. This will help reduce gas leakage in the city which will help with public safety and aid in restoration of the gas system. Entergy has worked diligently to preserve gas flow to the New Orleans Sewage and Water Board (SWB) in order to allow power generation for the drainage pumps that are critical to the mission of pumping water out of flooded areas of the city.

There are many boats and vehicles conducting rescue emergency services in the City of New Orleans. Entergy asks military personnel, police, and all emergency workers to help us by reporting natural gas leaks. Anyone who smells gas or see bubbles coming up in flooded areas should contact us at 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) and report the location of the suspected leak.

Entergy Gas Operations serves approximately 147,000 natural gas customers in New Orleans. Entergy Gas is working in coordination with Entergy electric restoration workers who are also working in the New Orleans area at this time. Extra resources continue to arrive in the Entergy service territory, and the restoration efforts continue to gain strength.

Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) 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, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and approximately 14,000 employees.

SOURCE Entergy Corporation

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