New Orleans, La. – The McGraw-Hill’s Platts Global Energy Awards recognized Entergy New Orleans Inc.’s gas rebuild project as the Global Infrastructure Project of the Year on Dec. 3 at a ceremony in New York City. This marks the fifth Platts Global Energy Award won by an Entergy company.

Entergy New Orleans, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Rod West said, "This is the first time an Entergy utility project has won this prestigious, international recognition from Platts. Every Entergy project no matter how large or small reflects upon the reputation of our company and its 14,700 fellow employees. In this instance, our gas operations employees made us proud and deserve all the credit for the success of the Entergy New Orleans gas rebuild project."

Based on its strategic planning, efficiency and timeliness, Entergy New Orleans’ ongoing reconstruction of the city’s natural gas distribution system in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina flooding received the prestigious honor among hundreds of energy industry leaders. Replacing approximately 844 miles of underground gas lines, the project is the world’s largest gas rebuild effort in history resulting from a catastrophic event.

“This international recognition of our company truly demonstrates the power of our people,” said Sherri Winlsow, vice president of Entergy’s gas business. “The innovation and flexibility behind the success of this project attests to the high caliber of our employees meeting the challenge of an unprecedented task.”

Entergy New Orleans began rebuilding the system in 2007 because the corrosive effects of the floodwaters were causing significant issues for service availability and reliability. By using state-of-the-art technology and upgraded material, the company is converting the city’s low-pressure gas system to a high-pressure system – a customer–focused strategy that aims to increase service reliability and minimize any disruptions during the restoration process.

Knowing first hand the challenges this project has entailed, Perry Dufrene, gas rebuild project manager at Entergy New Orleans accepted the award on the company’s behalf.

“We saw in this catastrophe an opportunity to do more than restore the system – it was an opportunity to bring benefits to our customers with new piping materials and also to implement innovative construction techniques that makes the rebuild easy for the people of New Orleans,” said Dufrene. “We are ahead of schedule, under budget and when all is said and done, the New Orleans gas system will be more modern, more protected from future damage and will also be easier and less expensive to maintain and repair.”

The Platts Global Energy Awards showcases extraordinary accomplishments from energy business worldwide. Each year, an international panel of judges composed of the energy industry's elite convene to cast their votes.

Previous Platts recognition included Entergy capturing Power Company of the Year for its nuclear growth strategy in 2002, Entergy Corp. being named Energy Company of the Year and Chief Executive Officer J. Wayne Leonard named CEO of the Year in 2003, and Entergy Board Member and former President Donald Hintz receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is an electric and gas utility serving Orleans Parish and is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. The company provides electricity to more than 141,000 customers and natural gas to more than 92,000 customers in Orleans Parish.
 

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