Beaumont, Texas – Entergy Texas, Inc. has set an aggressive schedule of tree-trimming in 2010 that continues here when a team of trimmers goes to work on a power line serving some 977 Beaumont customers.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 15, Entergy Texas customers can expect to see crews begin working to trim vegetation away from power lines served by a substation on McHale Road between Helbig and Bigner roads. The work is expected to last about five to six weeks, depending on weather.

A team of tree-trimmers will cut back vegetation from the nearly 11-mile long circuit that provides power to customers in an area between Bigner and Idylewood Avenue north of East Lucas and south of Lucas from Abilene Avenue to Bessmer Road. The Beaumont Country Club and boat launch areas complete the customers served by the power line.

Most of the work will involve aerial baskets, some mowing and crews who will work manually.

“This is an ongoing part of our cycle vegetation management program,” explained Sam Bethea, customer service manager for Beaumont. “Trimming vegetation is essential to keeping the lights on, so we have a schedule to ensure all power lines get the attention they need.

“We realize it can be inconvenient having workers in the area for an extended period of time, but it’s much less inconvenient than having the power go out at your home or business.”

Last year, Entergy Texas trimmed more than 1,000 line miles of trees and removed more than 17,000 hazard trees from throughout Southeast Texas. A hazard tree is any tree with a structural defect, such as the tree being dead or dying, decayed or leaning. Any of these circumstances could cause the tree to fall into overhead power lines.

“The many storms we’ve had in recent years has taken quite a toll on the trees in Southeast Texas,” explained Matt Kastner, Manager, Transmission and Distribution Vegetation Management for Entergy Texas. “Removing hazard trees remains a priority for us in our efforts to provide reliable service to our customers.”

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to more than 400,000 customers in 27 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $13 billion and approximately 14,700 employees.

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Entergy Texas’ online address is entergy-texas.com