BATON ROUGE - Longtime resident Barbara Haynes was shocked when utility crews arrived on her street to install new power poles - one of which is in her front yard - as part of Entergy's five-year grid resilience plan. 

Haynes, who has lived in her home on West McKinley Street for 40 years, said neither she nor her neighbors received any notification about the project, which now leaves a large pole blocking her view exiting and entering her driveway, and a portion of the sidewalk. 

She is frustrated. Despite confronting the crew, she was told the work would proceed within the utility's right-of-way.

"As I said, I'm between a rock and a hard place because I can't fight Entergy," said Haynes.

Haynes considers the new pole a safety hazard, both for drivers and the many pedestrians who use the busy street, especially during game days. She's also worried the pole could lower her property value - something that had never been a concern in her four decades as a homeowner.

Entergy's project, approved by the Public Service Commission in 2024, has placed similar poles in other neighborhoods as part of broader efforts to strengthen the local power grid.

In a case highlighted by 2 On Your Side last week, where a pole sits directly in front of a home on Perkins Road, the mayor's office said it is reaching out to Entergy to see what can be done about relocating the pole. 

Haynes said she did ultimately see an older utility pole removed from her yard, but the new installation remains a source of frustration and concern. All down her street, the old poles are still standing, connected to other utilities. 

Read more about Entergy's resilience plan here.