Toledo Bend
Bi-State
Alliance

Published on 8/8/98 Archived on 8/8/98

Power companies should be cautious

Two Louisiana power companies should take a close look at the amount of power they are taking from the dam at Toledo Bend reservoir.

Entergy and Central Louisiana Electric Cooperative have been asked by the Sabine River Authority to cease or slow power production schedules from the Toledo Bend dam during the current drought in order to slow the receding water levels in the reservoir.

In the past, the two companies have agreed to such requests during droughts, but they refused this time.

The record hot weather this summer has increased the demand for electricity, and power from the lake costs about one-fifth of the starting rate for power on national grids, if the power is even available.

We understand the desire of the power companies to save money for themselves and their customers, but we also feel consideration should be given to the economic and intrinsic value to others derived from the lake.

Northern inlets of the lake are shallow and droughts leave piers and boat launches high and dry. The generation of electricity with the two hydroelectric generators at the dam requires more water to be drained from the lake, intensifying the problem.

The lake is now 6 feet below its April level, 2 feet below normal and likely to fall another 4 feet by the end of October, according to engineers with the Sabine River Authority. A 4-foot drop would produce the lowest depth in the reservoir since the Sabine River was dammed 28 years ago.

Between evaporation and water being drawn off to run the generators, the lake is dropping about a tenth of a foot a month.

Some of the marinas and resorts at the lake already are isolated from the water after months of high temperatures and little rain. The operators of those businesses are, understandably, not happy with the two power companies’ refusal to mitigate the situation.

Both Entergy and CLECO have indicated they might reconsider their decisions on the amount of power from Toledo Bend they are using. The governor’s office has helped arrange meetings between the interested parties in an effort to resolve the problem.

While we understand the business decisions they have made, we hope they give consideration in those decisions to the economic impact on others.

Surveys by the state indicate Toledo Bend is the state’s fifth best tourism draw. If that is affected, it could have a significant effect on a lot of people.