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Entergy New Orleans CEO Charles Rice on getting power and energy back to customers after Isaac.
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So much exactly.
And you know president of -- actually declared a state of emergency both Louisiana and also in Mississippi so while Isaac is turning north it left the wake of destruction in Louisiana including hundreds of thousands.
Without power.
And and major lifeline for the country's oil capacity is without power as well which could impact gasoline prices across the country it's already done so to a certain extent.
Joining me now over the telephone is Charles rice Entergy New Orleans CEO.
And president and what a great person to have on today Charles -- we've talked so much.
About Entergy and what you've been following how many are still without -- -- power at this time.
Well around the state of Louisiana about 650000.
And the city of New Orleans it's about a hundred.
Now it is what you expected aiming -- what I know was category one in their -- category one brings -- -- death destruction.
What -- but is this something that you all were prepared for to a certain extent.
Well we're always with the we prepared for storms here around -- -- every storm.
Our response and how we treated storm though we refine our approaches every -- that.
Yes just like I would listen to you guys a little earlier every storm of this.
This was a category one.
But would have expect that type of flooding which we've received no one expected to our justice took over this area for so long and that has a lot to do -- Type it certainly does it's a slow moving storm it's dumping tons and tons of rain.
We've had multi billions of dollars spent on -- some flood protection obviously for the New Orleans area and such.
On but the fact that it's a lingered as long as it has has been problematic right.
Yeah well yes that's correct -- let me just say that the federal.
Protection of federal levees they did work they work that they were supposed to use that no one can predict what will happen when you receive this type of rain.
You know you can -- profit out so fast I think up -- Are designed to pump about one inch in the first.
Power in and that half an -- every hour every hour after that.
So when you get the type of rain that we've got in the gravel started January because we've had a very very went -- does that -- things that really attitude.
What are your goals by say Sunday Charles -- mean you're talking about.
You know hundreds of thousands without power water.
That is really pushing not been in some cases really push and -- limits for homes and polling out by obviously the levees are holding the most part -- What are your goals by say Sunday if you order go 123 what are that.
Well first well -- want to make sure we've gotten.
Power back to all of our critical infrastructure.
IE power generating stations.
Actually get a transmission lines back consider it get us substation speck of -- and actually get all hospitals.
Bank of certain from -- we try to get an.
The largest swat.
-- customers as possible so we have a line where 4050000 customers are down.
Will look at that -- to present and we kind of work our way back.
I mean for our goal is to serve as many customers -- this could many customers as possible -- English shortest amount of time.
Alright Charles rice of Entergy New Orleans CEO president I know your phone.
Has been ringing off the -- this week but thank you for taking the time to towers and bring us today operator thank you.
