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Entergy Earns 12th Consecutive EEI Award for Storm Response

Entergy Corp. accepted a national award on Mar. 3 for its work restoring power following a destructive ice storm last year in Arkansas. It is the 12th consecutive year Entergy has received a storm response award from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).

Entergy received an EEI Emergency Recovery Award for restoring power to more than 111,000 customers in Arkansas affected by the storm that struck in January 2009. Entergy is the only company to be honored every year since the EEI Emergency Response Awards were first presented in 1998. Entergy has won five awards for its efforts restoring power to its own customers and nine awards for helping other utilities repair their systems.

The storm heavily damaged Entergy Arkansas Inc.’s electric infrastructure, including 71 transmission-line-section outages that affected 64 substations and destroyed 274 transmission structures. Damage to the distribution system included 4,883 poles, 712 transformers, and 4,253 cross arms damaged or destroyed.

"Entergy’s emergency preparedness plan staved off what could have been a vastly more difficult restoration effort," said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "Their comprehensive approach to reversing infrastructure damage was a great example of how the entire electric power industry responds following such an event."

The Emergency Recovery Award and the Emergency Assistance Award are presented annually by EEI to U.S. and foreign-based member companies to recognize outstanding efforts in restoring electric service that has been disrupted by severe weather conditions or natural events. Winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process.

The complete list of awardees follows:

Emergency Recovery Awards

  • American Electric Power
  • Alaska Electric Light & Power
  • Ameren UE
  • E.ON U.S.
  • Entergy
  • Vectren Energy Delivery

Emergency Assistance Awards

  • Alabama Power
  • Baltimore Gas & Electric
  • FirstEnergy Corp.
  • Indianapolis Power & Light

Sources: Entergy Corp., EEI

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