Entergy exec sheds light on company’s streetlight policy

Schools gamble for revenue share
August 16, 2011
Nancy Cherie McCollum
August 18, 2011
Schools gamble for revenue share
August 16, 2011
Nancy Cherie McCollum
August 18, 2011

Dear Editor,


In response to a letter to the editor regarding streetlights that appeared in the Tri-Parish Times, I want to provide some additional information to clarify electrical service to streetlights in our communities.


The letter mentions malfunctioning streetlights that the writer “guesses” are in the thousands parishwide. First, it is unfair to “guess” about a subject when such assertions are totally inaccurate. And it should be noted that three different utility companies (Entergy, SLECA and the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government/City of Houma) provide electrical services, including streetlights, to Terrebonne Parish.

The writer also mentions that Entergy requests a GPS location to have a malfunctioning streetlight repaired. It is true that Entergy asks a caller for a 911 address for a malfunctioning streetlight. A 911 address helps determine if the light is owned by Entergy and secondly provides a great point of reference for the lineman to repair the light. Obtaining a 911 address is efficient and makes good business sense. If a 911 address is not available, a good description of the location, such as the northwest corner of an intersection, can be provided to Entergy.


We care about our customers, and respond to a malfunctioning streetlight as soon as we can. Our process includes a commitment to replace burned out bulbs within three working days after we are notified that the light is not working. To report a malfunctioning streetlight, please go online at www.entergy.com or call 1-800-ENTERGY to let us know that the streetlight needs to be repaired. If the repairs are outside the realm of normal bulb maintenance, such as repairs to underground wires, it may require additional time to fix the problem.


The letter also mentions streetlights “hidden by trees or in trees” and “it is a must to cut the trees away from power lines and lights.” Entergy installs (and removes) streetlights on public roadways at specific locations designated by the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government. Like bulb maintenance, customers can call 1-800-ENTERGY for our streetlights that require tree trimming. Entergy’s tree trimming policy is designed to avoid outages to its transmission and distribution electrical grid systems.

Government entities reimburse Entergy a streetlight rate that is approved by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, which is designed to also capture a “burn rate” of bulbs, which is a rate that takes into account a percentage of bulbs that have malfunctioned and need to be replaced.

Entergy employees in our Houma, Lockport and Labadieville service centers work hard to keep the lights on for our customers in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption and St. Mary parishes. It is a privilege to serve this region, and we are committed to provide excellent service to the communities where we live and are proud to be its citizens.

Henry Gernhauser,

Southeast La. Regional

Customer Service Manager,

Entergy Louisiana LLC