Entergy Mississippi will receive $4.2 million from the federal government to help lower costs for customers.
Serving as the largest power supplier in Mississippi, Entergy is set to obtain the funding from the U.S. Department of Energy through the agency’s SPARK initiative. The federal funding is expected to provide customers with more reliable and affordable electricity with advanced technology and additional capacity along 375 miles of transmission lines in Mississippi.
The project is expected to span four years.
“We are grateful for the partnership with the Department of Energy and Katie Jereza and her team for their strong commitment to strengthening energy resilience in our region,” Entergy Mississippi CEO Haley Fisackerly said. “This investment is yet another example of Entergy’s dedication to modernizing the electric grid while exploring every avenue available to strengthen reliability and lower costs for customers. The SPARK grant is a substantial allocation and a testament to the hard work of everyone involved.”
Through the company’s Superpower Mississippi strategy, Entergy Mississippi is undergoing a major grid upgrade aimed at meeting the state’s continued economic growth. Entergy Mississippi’s share of this project is being made possible, in part, by revenues generated by major data center projects and other big businesses.
The grant is part of a $13.7 million award announced last month that enables Entergy and its electric companies in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas to implement line rating technology, targeted geographic surveys, substation and terminal upgrades, and hardware integration across 1,125 miles of existing transmission lines.
These upgrades are anticipated to help the company more effectively manage its energy infrastructure in areas experiencing growth driven by business and industrial development and expansion.
“America can’t afford to let yesterday’s grid slow down tomorrow’s growth,” Katie Jereza, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity, said. “We need to move faster, think smarter, and get more power from the infrastructure we already have. This investment will help unlock capacity on existing power lines, strengthen reliability, and keep electricity affordable for American families and businesses.”
One of the expectations of the company’s transmission project is to enhance the transfer capability of transmission corridors by 25%.
By expanding the capability of existing transmission corridors, Entergy plans to be better positioned to support new and expanding industries across the region, helping communities attract investment and sustain long-term economic growth. By improving visibility into grid conditions, Entergy officials said the company can better manage congestion, defer capital investments, and reduce costs.