LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse is just a few days away, and Arkansas utility companies are preparing for the event like a snowstorm.
"What about solar power? If the world goes dark, are we going to lose power?" said Heather Kendrick with Entergy Arkansas. "These are the questions the company has heard as people wonder what the eclipse will do to electricity."
In short, Kendrick said people will still have power on April 8.
"There is no threat that we are going to run out of power, so to speak," Kendrick said. "That is not the case. Not only is it a low percentage of our portfolio, but this is also much like an overcast or cloudy day."
Entergy is already sending crews out all over the state, so any potential problems that come up can have a quick response.
"We are not anticipating a massive outage situation, absent severe weather, but we are trying to prepare for in case there are car accidents and a vehicle hits a pole," Kendrick said.
Summit Utilities is also spreading out crews in Arkansas, but limiting how many are on the road to prevent more traffic.
"We are actually going to emergency-only orders on April 8 and April 9," said Vernon Mcnully with Summit Utilities.
Summit said they are not concerned about losing natural gas due to the many people coming to Arkansas.