Texas – As a winter storm moves into the area, Entergy is urging customers to be prepared and reassuring them that crews are ready.
Kenny Muhammad, Entergy’s Region Manager for Customer Service, says there are plenty of ways to stay informed
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Crews on standby
Muhammad says Entergy is definitely ready and has a plan in place. “We are fully staffed up. Our personnel’s are in place. We have over 700 resources available, ready and standing by to respond when necessary.”
No disconnects for customers
If you’re behind on your Entergy bill, there’s relief during the freeze. Entergy has suspended all disconnects for non-payment system-wide through Feb. 2. Disconnections are scheduled to resume Feb. 3.
Customers who need extra help paying their bills can visit the Entergy mobile app or website to explore deferred payment options and financial assistance programs.
Customer assistance programs
Entergy offers several ways to help customers manage their bills and find financial support.
For those who need flexible payment options, Entergy provides tools to make paying easier:
- Pick-A-Date lets you choose when your bill is due.
- Level Billing evens out seasonal energy use so monthly bills stay more consistent.
- PaperFREE billing delivers your bills by email and gives access to up to two years of billing history.
- AutoPay automatically deducts your bill from your bank account to avoid late fees.
Customers who need additional help can check the Entergy mobile app or website to see if they qualify for deferred payment arrangements or extensions.
Entergy also partners with local and state programs to help customers access financial assistance:
- Power to Care provides emergency bill assistance to older adults and customers with disabilities.
- LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) helps with energy bills and related expenses.
- Single Stop allows quick, confidential checks for eligibility for federal, state, and local support.
For tips on saving energy and money, customers can visit BillToolkit.entergy.com.
Plan ahead
Even though Entergy is prepared, Kenny Muhammad reminds customers to make their own plans for the freeze. He emphasizes being ready and having things in place at home. Here are some tips from our previous coverage:
Ice can cause outages
A little ice can cause problems, but more can lead to widespread outages. Muhammad explains, “Anything from eighth of an inch to quarter of an inch can cause isolated outages. But then when you start to get up around three quarters of an edge to a full inch of accumulation on a line or on trees, then you can see widespread outages just simply from the weight of the ice accumulation.”
He continues, “It can cause tree limbs, branches to break and fall, fall into the lines. But it can also cause our cross arms and or the poles to break themselves. The sheer weight of the ice accumulation on the line is a real risk.”
Restoration takes time
If power goes out, it won’t be instant. Muhammad explains: “We cannot really begin our restoration and assessment until it’s safe to do so… Safety is our first priority. And then right after that, it’s restoration of the services.
He adds that getting power back on is a methodical process. “once it started to heat up, then we’ll go ahead and begin to bring on additional customers and the rest of the feeder.”
Muhammad emphasizes that this careful approach prevents further damage. “(This) just prevents us from causing additional damage to our grid, which then further exacerbates the damage and the extension of the outage.”
As the storm moves in, Houstonians are bracing for icy conditions and possible outages but knowing what to expect can make the difference in staying safe and comfortable.