Greenwell Springs, Louisiana – DEMCO reports 75 percent of meters back in service with remaining outages totaling 29,086. Crews have restored 71 percent of distribution line miles, and forty of forty-three substations are receiving transmission.
“Restoration estimates are based on updates and progress reported at 12:00 p.m. and may change as new information or challenges arise,” says Randy Pierce, CEO and general manager.
Outages by Parish: Ascension parish - 15086 meters, 4545 out (69% energized); East Baton Rouge –35552 meters, 894 out (97% energized); East Feliciana – 6062 meters, 887 out (85% energized); Livingston parish - 45355 meters, 18784 out (58% energized); St. Helena - 5251 meters, 3348 out (36% energized); Tangipahoa – 626 meters, 626 out (0% energized); West Feliciana – 4527 meters, 2 out (99% energized).
Updates by Parish:
Ascension: Damage assessment continues as crews clear affected areas. Most three-phase main lines have been assessed: 180 broken poles, 250 stripped poles, no count yet on total transformers.
Crews are working to repair distribution lines that serve members in St. Amant, Prairieville, Gonzales, and Galvez. Damage in the Galvez area is extensive, including 100-125 broken poles and 200 stripped poles. In this area, 40 percent of 3-phase distribution is restored and single phase poles will follow.
East Baton Rouge: Damage assessment is complete. Broken three-phase poles total 250; Zachary repairs are nearing completion after replacing sixty poles and twenty transformers. Crews are working in neighborhoods in the Central/Greenwell Springs area.
East Feliciana: Damage restoration is in hard-to-access areas that often require off-road equipment.
Livingston: Damage assessment continues, but to date, there are 470 broken poles in this parish. The Frost, Holden and LIGO substations are now receiving transmission and crews continue to repair distribution infrastructure.
In the town of Livingston, Killian and part of Satsuma the vast majority of members will be restored on or before 9/9; in Frost, Colyell and surrounding areas, the vast majority of members will be restored on or before 9/11; in Walker and Denham Springs area; the vast majority of members will be restored on or before 9/9.
In lower Livingston, in the areas of Killian and Springfield, after transmission is on, distribution repairs are estimated at four to five additional days. In this area, the vast majority of members will be restored on or before 9/15. Media Contact Anne Hawes, 225-954-1112 AnneH@DEMCO.org Media Availability David Latona, 225-226-8149 DavidL@DEMCO.org For members in Springfield, Albany and Pumpkin Center (Tangipahoa) – one of the hardest hit areas – local restoration is projected four to six days following transmission restoration; the vast majority of members will be restored on or before 9/17.
St. Helena and Tangipahoa: The Pine Grove residential-load substation and two industrial-load substations remain out. Current damage assessment indicates 380 broken transmission and distribution poles down. The Pine Grove substation and the entire east side of St. Helena and Tanigipahoa are devastated. Transmission infrastructure is ravaged and the rebuild is estimated at three to four weeks. After transmission is restored, distribution repairs are estimated at an additional one to two weeks.
Rights-of-way clearing is completed from Greensburg to Easleyville, and crews are now working to clear areas north on Hwy 43, and from Greensburg to Pine Grove. Several spans of line between Hwy 43 to Hwy 1045 that cross the Tickfaw River require rebuild.
“All DEMCO employees, outside contractors and mutual-aid lineworkers continue to work to restore power to all members and we will not rest until the job is complete,” says Pierce.
Restoration updates are posted at www.DEMCO.org.
