news release > entergy arkansas helps customers stay warm and save money this winter

entergy arkansas helps customers stay warm and save money this winter

12/20/2024

little rock, ark. – in preparation for the colder weather months ahead, entergy arkansas has taken measures in advance to ensure we’re winter-ready.

according to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration’s climate prediction center, a developing la niña is expected to persist through the winter season causing a warmer and drier season in our service area. despite these predictions, arkansas weather remains unpredictable, and entergy arkansas will be ready for any extreme weather that may affect our state.

entergy arkansas crews have performed a significant review of our preparedness and protections against extreme conditions. this includes developing a comprehensive plan to protect our generation, transmission and distribution systems from extreme cold. we have implemented unique readiness plans for each of our power generation resources that include insulating critical equipment and diligently testing protections based on historical operating experience. our transmission team follows a specialized seasonal readiness program that includes inspection and maintenance of critical lines and their associated breakers, transformers and substation distribution feeders going to generation/natural gas facilities. entergy arkansas crews have inspected critical systems and infrastructure across the grid in advance of colder temperatures in order to maintain reliability and resiliency.

our winter readiness work follows the recommendations of the north american electric reliability corporation (nerc) and is in compliance with their standards. in addition, entergy arkansas employees recently participated in a winter readiness exercise that included situational drills and tabletop discussions for training and awareness of lessons learned and best practices for winter storm response. in 2021, a winter storm brought sub-zero temperatures, ice accumulation and record snowfall totals across the southern part of the u.s.  while other states experienced challenges, the arkansas public service commission concluded that entergy arkansas and its grid “performed well from an operational perspective during the february 2021 event,” ably handling related outages and power restoration efforts.  

vegetation management

• the risk of falling tree limbs and branches is a leading cause of power outages during winter weather. entergy arkansas is proactively identifying and mitigating problem areas by taking steps year-round to maintain and control vegetation across our service area. crews have completed the annual clearing of right-of-way areas to minimize the impact of fallen trees or branches following a storm. prior to storms impacting our area, vegetation crews perform pre-storm patrols of circuits to mitigate any imminent threats within the right of way. our year-round storm preparations include our comprehensive vegetation management program and the targeted “ground to sky” vegetation trimming, which removes tree limbs that would typically have been above the power line. our crews also use artificial intelligence and satellite imagery to help predict when trimming may be needed.

prepare for cold weather by maximizing energy efficiency

when colder temperatures arrive in the state, heating systems will start running full blast, causing a spike in energy usage. however, staying warm and comfortable doesn’t have to come at the cost of high energy bills. by making a few simple changes around your home, you can improve its energy efficiency and keep costs down throughout the colder months.   

air leaks and inefficient hvac systems can lead to an additional $400 in home energy costs each year. rather than cranking up the thermostat as temperatures drop, try these affordable or even free tips to reduce your energy use and save money.  

keep heating costs low all season long by taking these tips to improve your home’s energy efficiency:

• use solar energy: open curtains on the south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
  
• insulate drafty windows: use a heavy-duty, clear plastic sheet on a frame or tape clear plastic film to the inside of window frames and make sure the plastic is sealed tightly to the frame to help reduce infiltration.
  
  
• adjust the thermostat: when you are home and awake, set the thermostat as low as is comfortable, but when you are asleep or out of the house, turn the thermostat back to save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills.
  
  
• find and seal leaks: seal air leaks around utility cut-throughs for pipes and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, and unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets.
  
  
• maintain heating systems: schedule routine service for home heating systems and replace furnace and heat pump filters once a month or as needed.
  
  
• reduce heat loss from the fireplace: keep the fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning and check the seal on the fireplace flue damper and make it as snug as possible.

by following these simple steps, you can stay warm and comfortable all winter long while keeping your energy bills under control. 

we also offer free comprehensive residential energy audits and rebates to help reduce the upfront cost of installing energy-efficient equipment. visit entergy.com/energyefficiency for more information. 

bill management resources entergy’s newly launched online bill toolkit connects customers to bill management, energy efficiency and financial assistance resources. this new resource helps our customers explore simple ways they can lower their electricity use and costs.

track your energy use  

bill management tools like myadvisor empower our customers to set electricity usage alerts and monitor how much energy they use each day. tracking electricity use over time can help customers identify habits that contribute to higher use and budget their monthly expenses. with their myadvisor dashboard, customers have access to usage and cost details, bill history, bill projections and analyzer tools and more. 

entergy arkansas encourages customers who may need help or resources to reach out by visiting our mobile app or myentergy.  

about entergy arkansas
entergy arkansas, llc provides electricity to approximately 730,000 customers in 63 counties. entergy arkansas is a subsidiary of 沙特vs墨西哥让球, a fortune 500 electric company. entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in arkansas, louisiana, mississippi and texas. we’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. with roots in our communities for more than 100 years, entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. entergy is headquartered in new orleans, louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. for the latest news from entergy arkansas, visit the newsroom and connect with @entergyark on social media.