(New Orleans, LA, May 8, 2023) -Orleans Parish Communication District Executive Director Tyrell Morris and District B Councilmember Lesli Harris announce a new 3-1-1 feature that will allow residents of New Orleans to report utility pole issues to 3-1-1 via call, text, chat, or online which will then be sent directly to Entergy, AT&T, or Cox to inspect and repair.
Utility companies will receive immediate notification via an application developed by OPCD that enables seamless tracking of utility pole issues throughout New Orleans. This process was previously conducted by email and phone call, starting with the reporting resident contacting each agency directly. Using QuickBase software, we have now brought all our external partner agencies onto one platform so residents can report non-emergency utility pole issues directly to 311 via call, text, chat or online.
“For far too long, residents have been understandably frustrated because there has been no clear way to report damaged utility poles in their neighborhoods. My office has frequently conducted field visits with residents to inspect damaged utility poles and report them to utility companies. While that has helped to repair some utility poles, it should never be the long-term solution,” said Councilmember Harris.
“Over the past year, my office has been working closely with OPCD, the Office of Utilities, Entergy, AT&T, and Cox to create an option in 3-1-1 for residents to report damaged utility poles. I am happy to say that today, that reporting option is now a reality. Residents can report utility pole issues to 311 via call, text, chat or online which will then be sent directly to Entergy, AT&T, or Cox to inspect and repair. I want to thank community advocate Michael Burnside for being a strong voice in this fight for utility company accountability.”
“While this is a major step towards documenting and repairing damaged utility poles, I will continue to push for strengthening our power grid and infrastructure in District B and across New Orleans,” she added.
“The 311 team is prepared to handle all calls regarding unsafe and concerning utility poles and wires. We are excited about expanding our capabilities and services to the residents of New Orleans,” said 311 Director Erica Mercadel-Hayes.
“We are thankful for the leadership and collaboration of Councilmember Harris, the Office of Utilities, Entergy, AT&T, Cox, and the Department of Public Works to work together towards a common goal of serving the city of New Orleans and ensuring that our services are working with each other to provide the best service for our residents. Today is a great example of collaborative leadership proving that when we come together to work together, we have more collective wins for our great city and for the people we are all here to serve,” said Director Tyrell Morris.