Rates & Fees

Rates

Cleco Power customers enjoy many benefits, including having one of the lowest electric bills in the nation. Our base rates are reviewed and approved by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the state regulatory agency for utilities in the state. All customers are billed based on a rate code, which is determined by the type of service provided. For example, residential customers will see the "RES" rate code on their bills, which means residential electric service. If a customer receives outdoor lighting, the rate code on the bill will be "OLS," which means outdoor lighting service. The rate code(s) is listed under the section of the bill with the heading “Billing Charges."

Cleco's rate codes and descriptions are listed below on a rate schedule, along with a rider schedule (modifications to a rate schedule), adjustment clause and other related documents.

Check out the video below on how electric utility rates are set.

Fees

• Customer Charge - Fixed costs of providing service to each classification of customer (residential, commercial, etc.).
  Residential - $12
  Residential on Time of Use Choice or Touch Program - $10
  Commercial Non-Demand - $20
  Commercial with Demand - $28
  
  
• Deposit - Fee required to turn on electric service.
  Cleco Power pays a 5% annual interest rate on deposits held for six months or more.  The payment is made in the form of a monthly bill credit.
  
  Residential
  Deposits to turn on electric service will be a minimum of $100 but could be as high as $300 depending on the applicant’s credit history.*  Once an applicant becomes a customer, an additional deposit may be assessed if the customer’s service is disconnected for nonpayment due to potential losses from unpaid bills.  Each time service is disconnected for nonpayment, customers will be billed an additional deposit of $100.  The total of any additional deposits will not be more than double the customer’s estimated maximum monthly bill.  Unmetered accounts do not require a deposit.
  
  *Cleco contracts with a third party, ONLINE Utility Exchange, to provide identity verification and render a deposit decision based on the applicant's credit file. ONLINE Utility Exchange consumer inquiries may be made by calling (800) 286-2487.
  
  Commercial
  Minimum deposit for commercial customers is $250.
  
  
• Connection - Fee to cover the cost of making service available.
  $15
  
  
• Re-connection - If power is disconnected for nonpayment, customers will be required to pay their past-due bill plus a re-connect charge before power can be turned back on.  Customer also will be billed an additional deposit of $100.
  During regular working hours - $15
  After hours (after 4:30 p.m.) - $30 
  
  
• Late payment - If a bill is not paid by the due date, the customer will be assessed a late payment charge. The charge is 3% of the amount due.
  
  
• Non-sufficient fund check - A fee is charged for handling and collecting returned checks.
  The charge is $25 or 5% of the face value of the original check, whichever is greater.
  
  
• Verification of meter reading (re-read) - Customers may request one meter read verification at no cost per calendar year. A fee of $12 is billed for any additional verification of meter readings in the same calendar year.
  
  
• Meter test  - Customers may request one meter read test at no cost per calendar year. A fee of $20 is billed for any additional meter read tests in the same calendar year.
  
  
• Meter re-seal - A service fee of $20 is assessed to re-seal a meter seal cut by the customer.
  
  
• Meter tampering - Fee is assessed for electricity diversion or meter tampering. This is to offset the cost associated with investigating and re-billing the tampered account.
  
  First tampering offense - $100
  Second tampering offense - $200
  Third tampering offense - $500
  
  
• Customer problem - Fee is assessed if Cleco Power dispatches a truck and technician to investigate an electrical problem that turns out to be on the customer's side of the meter.
  During regular working hours - $25
  After hours (after 4:30 p.m.) - $50