New Orleans Power Outage: What Caused the City-Wide Blackout?

In-Depth Analysis

The power outage occurred around 4:50 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, 2025, impacting critical infrastructure and daily life. Entergy New Orleans initiated periodic power outages at the direction of MISO to prevent a more extensive and prolonged power outage that could severely affect the reliability of the power grid.

**What is MISO?** MISO is a regional electricity grid operator managing bulk power transmission and wholesale electricity markets across 15 states, from Canada to the Gulf Coast.

**Why a Load Shed?** A load shed, or 'brownout,' is a protective measure to prevent grid-wide failure during emergencies or high demand. It involves temporarily cutting power to portions of the grid.

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis indicated that an Entergy generator was offline for maintenance, and a second generator failed. Simultaneously, power demand exceeded forecasts. Compounding the issue, New Orleans City Council members noted MISO provided Entergy only three minutes' warning before the outage.

**Who Was Affected:** - Orleans Parish: Approximately 52,000 Entergy customers, including Lakeview, Industrial Canal, Gentilly, Mid-City, and Uptown. - Jefferson Parish: 35,800 customers. - St. Bernard Parish: 6,000 customers. - Plaquemines Parish: 6,500 customers.

Toups Metairie offered a cooling space for those without air conditioning. The Greek Fest celebration was also disrupted due to the power loss.

**How to Prepare:** - Ensure you have a backup power source, such as a generator or battery-powered devices. - Sign up for alerts from Entergy and local news media. - Have a plan for dealing with extreme heat without air conditioning.

**Who This Affects Most:** The outage disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including the elderly, individuals with medical conditions, and low-income families who may not have alternative cooling options.

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FAQ

What is a load shed?

A load shed is a controlled power outage used as a last resort to prevent a larger, more damaging blackout.

Why did the power outage happen with little warning?

MISO reportedly gave Entergy only a three-minute warning, prompting questions about the communication protocols and response times.

Takeaways

The New Orleans power outage was caused by a load shed ordered by MISO to prevent a broader grid failure.
Over 100,000 customers were affected, highlighting the vulnerability of the power grid.
Better communication and infrastructure improvements are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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Sources

Power restored after major citywide power outage Power is back in metro New Orleans, but what caused the huge outage? Here's what we know. Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans forced to initiate periodic power outages to customers

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