Here’s when power is expected to be restored across Louisiana
State says outages have dropped from a peak of 175,000 as crews battle ice, access issues
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Louisiana utilities are making progress restoring power after the winter storm knocked out electricity to as many as 175,000 customers statewide, officials said Monday afternoon.
State leaders said outages have dropped to about 120,000 customers as of midday Monday, with restoration efforts now focused on north and central Louisiana, where ice damage and access issues remain the biggest obstacles.
Ouachita Parish was the hardest hit by far, with over 45,000 customers affected.
Officials said outages moved from southwest to northeast as freezing rain crossed the state, complicating restoration timelines and creating uneven damage patterns.
Restoration timelines by utility
Officials shared preliminary restoration targets, emphasizing they remain estimates and depend on access and damage severity:
- Cleco: bulk of customers expected to be restored by Tuesday, with significant progress Monday night
- SWEPCO: majority expected by Tuesday, though some outages may linger in Red River, DeSoto and Natchitoches areas
- Entergy Louisiana:
- About 90% restored by Wednesday for areas without major access issues
- About 90% restored by Thursday for customers in harder-hit, less accessible areas
Estimated restoration times for Concordia Co-op and Panola-Harrison were not immediately available.
Officials stressed that customers whose homes have sustained electrical damage may need repairs by a licensed electrician before service can be restored.
Why restoration is slower than hurricanes
Utility leaders stressed that winter storm restoration is fundamentally different from hurricane recovery.
After hurricanes, power can often be restored in large blocks once lines are cleared. In extreme cold, utilities must restore power section by section to avoid overloading the system when heaters and appliances come back online.
“That’s why you won’t see big chunks of power coming on all at once,” officials said. “It’s a slower, more methodical process.”
Crews must energize small sections, wait for the load to stabilize, then move on to the next area to prevent additional outages.
Ice damage and access remain major challenges
Officials said tree damage is the primary cause of outages statewide, with ice-weighted limbs falling into power lines and right-of-ways.
Restoration has been slowed by icy roads, prompting close coordination between utilities and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. DOTD crews have been clearing debris and treating roadways so linemen can safely access damaged infrastructure.
Warming centers prioritized for power
State officials said utilities are working closely with health and emergency agencies to ensure warming centers and shelters are prioritized for restoration when possible.
Residents without power and heat are urged not to wait for overnight restoration and instead seek shelter as additional hard freezes are expected through midweek.
What residents should know
Officials urged residents to:
- remain patient as crews restore power methodically
- check for damage to home electrical equipment if neighbors have power but they do not
- avoid unnecessary travel so crews can reach damaged areas
- use generators safely and never indoors or in garages
State leaders said power restoration will continue to accelerate as road conditions improve, but warned that bitter cold will persist, making safety precautions critical until electricity is fully restored.
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