Cleco Launches Largest-Ever Grid Resiliency Program to Slash Outages
Cleco has kicked off the most extensive grid infrastructure overhaul in its history, deploying over 550 projects across Louisiana that promise fewer power outages and faster restoration for nearly 298,000 customers.
This massive, five-year resiliency plan is focused on hardening the electric grid with targeted upgrades, including replacing equipment, undergrounding power lines, strengthening utility poles, and elevating substations above flood plains.
Game-Changing Projects Underway Across Multiple Cities
Cleco teams are currently assessing and maintaining more than 700 utility poles in key Louisiana towns like Covington, Eunice, Jeanerette, Lacombe, Madisonville, New Iberia, Pineville, and Slidell. These efforts directly address vulnerabilities exposed by severe storms in recent years.
Andre Guillory, Cleco’s Chief Customer Officer, emphasized the customer impact:
“Our resiliency efforts benefit residential customers and a portion of the projects will focus on critical customers, like hospitals and emergency services, whose work is essential during times of crisis.”
Danny Rider, director of distribution reliability and resiliency at Cleco, stressed the long-term financial and operational benefits:
“These projects will further strengthen systemwide resilience, reduce storm-related costs and result in fewer outages and faster restoration times for our customers.”
Why This Matters Now to Customers Across Regions
Cleco’s historic investment arrives as extreme weather events threaten power reliability nationwide. For Nevada readers and consumers in other states, Cleco’s program underscores a critical trend: utilities expanding grid hardening to protect communities and essential services.
Cleco’s track record speaks volumes—the company has met or surpassed Louisiana Public Service Commission reliability standards for 27 straight years, keeping lights on over 99.9% of the time.
Cleco operates eight generation units with a capacity of 2,676 MW, serving Louisiana’s residential and wholesale power markets. This upgrade initiative is expected to dramatically reduce storm-related outages and speed recovery, setting an example for resilience efforts across the country.
What’s Next?
As these projects progress, Cleco plans ongoing updates detailing new milestones and direct benefits to customers. Other utilities nationwide are watching closely as grid resilience becomes a top priority amid rising climate challenges.
For now, Cleco customers in Louisiana can expect fewer interruptions and faster power restoration—critical improvements that resonate beyond state borders as all regions face mounting power grid vulnerabilities.
