Transmission Upgrades in Louisiana
Summary
In 2009 alone, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana have either
completed or committed to almost $350 million worth of improvements to the
transmission system in Louisiana.
The investments include rebuilding lines that were damaged in recent hurricanes as well
as upgrading existing lines to improve reliability and increase the ability of the
companies to import power into the regions the companies serve. In some parts of the
state, new lines are being constructed to improve reliability.
All transmission projects are designed and built to meet or exceed the latest codes and
standards and are more resistant to hurricane-force winds. In coastal areas, for example,
the new transmission facilities are built to withstand 150-mile per hour winds.
Specifics

On June 4, 2009 Entergy’s Louisiana utilities announced the completion of three major
transmission projects in south Louisiana—the Alliance to Happy Jack, Amite South II,
and Amite South III projects.
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These three projects represent more than $100 million dollars worth of
investment in the state to better serve our customers.
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The three construction projects have been built to the latest standards, with two
projects located further inland designed to withstand 140-mile per hour winds
and the third, which is located in the extreme coastal area, to withstand 150-mile
per hour winds.

The Alliance to Happy Jack project replaces a transmission line that was severely
damaged during Katrina and improves reliability to customers in the southern part of the
parish. It also helps to attract new businesses to the southern part of the parish.

The Amite South II and Amite South III projects increase Entergy’s ability to import
power into southeast Louisiana by approximately 350 megawatts. Before the start of the
projects, the import capacity was about 2,450 MW. The completion of the projects brings
the import capability to about 2,800 MW.
Alliance to Happy Jack Project

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Entergy Louisiana customers in southern Plaquemines Parish
were served by a 115kV transmission line that ran primarily along the east bank of the
Mississippi River as well as a 34.5 kV distribution network.

The transmission line that existed on the east bank prior to Katrina ran primarily through
sensitive marsh land.
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
Both distribution and transmission facilities in this area suffered major damage as a result
of Hurricane Katrina. It is estimated that 75 percent of the electrical facilities in this area
were heavily damaged during the storm.

Because of the damage to transmission and distribution facilities, Entergy Louisiana had
to identify restoration options that would reliably serve the projected load, both in the
short term and the long term as Plaquemines Parish continues to grow.

The selected option was a 19-mile long 115 kV line running roughly along highway 23
on the west bank of the Mississippi river from near Alliance to the Tennessee Gas plant.

Moving the line to the west bank has several benefits:
1. Since the new transmission line is located along highway 23, the lines are more
easily accessible during maintenance or restoration work.
2. The old line on the east bank was routed through sensitive marsh lands, and the
impact on the nearby environment is lessened.

Building a new transmission line has allowed the company to replace older facilities, with
new, modern facilities that are designed to withstand 150 mile-per-hour winds.

Having a new 115kV line in southern Plaquemines Parish will help the parish attract new
businesses as well provide reliable service to existing small towns, fishing camps and
commercial businesses.
Amite South II and III Projects

The Amite South area encompasses most of Entergy’s service territory in southeast
Louisiana.

Together, the Amite South II and III projects will make it much easier to import power
into the southeastern Louisiana area. The projects will increase import capacity by
approximately 350 megawatts to approximately 2,800 megawatts.

The Amite South II portion of the project includes:
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Building 18 miles of new 230 kV line across parts of St. James and St. John the
Baptist parishes
Building a new substation in St. James Parish
Improving three substations in St. John the Baptist Parish
Re-routing 4.5 miles of existing 230 kV line in St. James and St. John the Baptist
parishes.

The Amite South II project faced construction difficulties due to the fact that several
miles of line had to be built through wooded swamp land that first had to be cleared of
trees.

The Amite South III portion of the project includes:
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Upgrading 11 miles of 230 kV line in Livingston and East Baton Rouge parishes
and improving two substations along the line
Upgrading 8.3 miles of 230 kV line in Ascension Parish
Improving two substations in Ascension Parish

With the upgrades to the transmission system as a result of the Amite South II and III
projects, the Entergy system can more easily import greater amounts of power into
southeast Louisiana, which is especially beneficial during restoration and maintenance
work.

New facilities constructed as part of the Amite South II and III projects were built to the
latest codes and standards and are designed to withstand 140 mile-per-hour winds.
Additional Infrastructure Repairs and Upgrades

In addition to the $100 million spent on the Amite South and Plaquemines Parish
projects, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana are undertaking several
other transmission projects across the state that are valued at more than $240 million.
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Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is investing approximately $70 million for
improvements in the Acadiana load pocket area. This investment is Entegy’s portion
of the three company project announced in January by Entergy, Cleco and LUS.
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A new 230 kV line is being built between the Hammond and Loblolly substations,
representing an investment of approximately $73 million
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The companies are also investing approximately $90 million for upgrades in
northeast Louisiana.

Entergy Louisiana is working with Plaquemines Parish to construct a levee around the
Alliance Substation to minimize future flood damage.

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana raised critical substation equipment at the Duboin
substation in Iberia Parish and Hackberry substation in Cameron Parish.

At Grand Isle, Entergy Louisiana reinstalled submarine cable bore at Grand Terre Island
as well as Caminado Pass to make these underwater lines more secure and resistant to
wash-out from storm surge.
Within the coastal zones:
 Installed support poles at the base of several poles for extra strength.

Added guy wire (metal wires used to anchor poles) supports to distribution lines in
extreme southern parishes for extra strength against sustained high winds from storms.

Continuing to install larger class poles (larger diameter) for added mass and strength in
extreme southern parishes.
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With new transmission line construction:
 Use steel instead of concrete within 20 miles of coast

Increase design wind speeds by 20 mph 0-50 miles of the coast

Increase design wind speeds by 10 mph 50-90 miles of the coast

Case by case elevation of substations

Convert interstate crossings from wood to steel
Proposed Future Projects (list is not all inclusive)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

Upgrade the capacitor bank at Nelson substation – 2010 projected in-service date

Build a new 138 kV substation near Youngsville – 2011 ISD

Upgrade 138 kV line between Alchem and Monochem – 2011 ISD

Upgrade 230 kV line between Addis and Cajun – 2011 ISD

Build new lines and upgrade substations in Acadiana area – Phase I in 2011, Phase II in
2012
Entergy Louisiana

Upgrade 115 kV line between Snakefarm and Kenner substations – 2010 ISD

Upgrade 230 kV breakers at Bogalusa substation – 2010 ISD

Build a new 230 kV line between Bayou Steel and Tezcuco – 2012 ISD

Upgrade 115 kV line between Golden Meadow and Leesville - TBD
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