Little Rock, Ark. – A transformer failure at Entergy Arkansas’s Mabelvale Substation combined with high temperatures has caused the company to ask customers in the Little Rock Metropolitan Area to cut back on electricity usage today.
Early this morning, one of six transformers that bring power to the Little Rock area distribution grid failed. The equipment failure has reduced the amount of electricity being fed into the local network which could cause some power outages in the area.
Entergy Arkansas is working to install a replacement transformer which is expected to be operational late this evening.
“Today we really have to watch the power supply in Little Rock and ask our customers to conserve where possible,” said Dennis Singletary, Entergy Arkansas’ director of customer service. “By Thursday a replacement unit will be in service that should mitigate the problem we’re experiencing today. We also expect cooler temperatures by the weekend and, therefore, less demand for power.”
Singletary emphasized that Entergy Arkansas is not experiencing a power supply shortage but rather an equipment failure which contributes to our voltage support problem.
“We are making every attempt to meet our customers’ electric demands,” said Singletary.
Entergy Arkansas urges all customers with a power outage to report it by calling 1-800-ENTERGY.
Entergy Arkansas also wants to remind its customers that with high temperatures comes increased use of electricity. By taking a few simple steps, customers can make a big difference in energy usage.
Air conditioning accounts for more than half of monthly energy usage. Customers can stay comfortable and control costs by:
· Raising the central air conditioning thermostat to 78 degrees. Window units should be adjusted accordingly.
· Checking air conditional filter monthly to ensure that it is clean.
· Closing window blinds, drapes and curtains during the day reduces warming from direct sunlight.
· Using energy-efficient ceiling fans and portable fans to circulate airflow through your home.
· Doing laundry in the cooler hours of late evening or early morning.
Entergy Arkansas provides electricity to almost 670,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Corporation 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 2.6 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of over $9 billion and 14,000 employees.