Greenwell Springs, Louisiana – DEMCO reports 58% of meters back in service with remaining outages totaling 47,023. Fifty-five percent of distribution line miles are back in service, and 37 of 43 substations are receiving transmission.

“DEMCO has hundreds of crews and equipment in all seven parishes of our service area,” says Randy Pierce, CEO and general manager. “As soon as transmission damage is repaired and it’s safe to do so, crews are energizing lines.”

“Crews are working on all parts of the system - transmission, distribution, three-phase and single phase, and eventually they will be on local lines shifting to local lines reparing damages on lines and individual services,” says Mark Phillips, director of operations. “Until all substations are ready to receive power we continue to use power switching technology, pulling and sharing power from other areas in our system.”

Ascension parish - 15086 meters, 8203 out (45.62% energized); East Baton Rouge –35552 meters, 3794 out (89.32% energized); East Feliciana – 6062 meters, 1775 out (70.71 energized); Livingston parish - 45355 meters, 28212 out (37.79% energized); St. Helena - 5251 meters, 4640 out (11.63 energized); Tangipahoa – 626 meters, 626 out (0% energized); West Feliciana – 4527 meters, 70 out (98.45% energized).

System damage is severe in Livingston, St. Helena and Tangiphoa parishes. These areas have hundreds of poles and many miles of lines down. Flooding, terrain and debris impede complete progress, and often require special off-road or amphibious equipment. Transmission repairs are estimated between three to seven days, and then distribution will be energized when it is safe to do so.

Estimated times of restoration for local lines and homes will be updated after transmission is restored. On the east side of St. Helena parish, outages in Pine Grove and Montpelier are estimated at two to three weeks. Outages in the Tangipahoa area are estimated at three to four weeks to restore.