Entergy New Orleans uses drone technology to strengthen reliability

NEW ORLEANS - Entergy New Orleans is committed to enhancing grid reliability and improving the quality of service for our customers. Since 2019, the company has deployed advanced drone technology to inspect transmission lines spanning critical infrastructure and at challenging locations. At present, Entergy New Orleans is the only operating company within the enterprise utilizing this technology for inspection purposes.

In 2017, a lightning strike near the I-10 and I-610 interchange damaged a utility pole, resulting in live wires falling onto the interstate. This incident led to significant traffic delays and a widespread power outage, highlighting the importance of safer and more proactive ways to monitor critical infrastructure.

"Using drone technology gives us the ability to safely inspect infrastructure that can be challenging to access through traditional methods," said a Jason Goodick, manager of corporate aviation at Entergy. "It allows our engineers to review detailed imagery, identify potential issues early, and make proactive repairs that help improve reliability for our customers."

Federal regulations restrict drone operations over critical infrastructure, and industry guidelines recommend maintaining a minimum distance of 35 feet from active transmission lines. To ensure safe and compliant inspections, we employ specialized flight protocols and leverage advanced technology.

Our drones capture high-resolution video of transmission lines and equipment, along with infrared imagery that can reveal potential issues that are not visible during ground inspections. This footage is then reviewed by our engineering teams, enabling us to prioritize maintenance and address concerns before they potentially lead to outages.

Through routine inspections prior to storm season and throughout the year, we are strengthening safety protocols, minimizing service interruptions, and implementing innovative strategies to ensure the reliable maintenance of the electric grid.

Click here to watch the drone video footage.

About Entergy New Orleans

Entergy New Orleans provides electricity to more than 209,000 customers in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Entergy New Orleans is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy generates, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for more than 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're focused on keeping costs for our customers as low as possible while providing reliable energy that our communities count on. We're also investing in growth for the future with a more resilient, cleaner energy system that includes modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy generation. As a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at EntergyNewOrleans.com and connect with @EntergyNOLA on social media.