August 30, 2005 News Media Release

Austin Energy Crews To Assist New Orleans

Austin Energy will assist Entergy with outage restoration in the New Orleans area.

The Utility will send 15 linemen and 14 vehicles including five bucket trucks, trucks that dig holes for pole placement, materials trucks that transport rolls of power lines and power poles. The AE crews will work in Louisiana for two weeks.

The AE contingency will leave the St. Elmo Service Center Wednesday morning (August 31) at 6:00 am for the 520-mile drive to the New Orleans area.

AE has also released 10 of its contract tree trimming crews, who will assist in Louisiana.

AE crews helped restore power in Florida and Alabama after hurricanes there last year.

Directions to the St. Elmo Service Center:

• Go IH-35 headed south
• Exit at Stassney
• Go back over interstate and head north on the service road
• Right on St. Elmo
• Right on Meinardus
• Follow Meinardus to dead end
• Turn left (Sponberg), you will see gates the crews will be exiting.

We will be on the scene. There will be linemen available for interviews, if requested.

-end-

For more information, contact Ed Clark, Public Information.
Phone: (512) 322-6514
Pager: (512) 802-2000