Storms can occur at any time during the year, so Cleco is prepared to respond to power outages year round. Cleco subscribes to multiple weather services to help our customers prepare before a storm hits, and the company uses multiple
platforms to communicate with customers during storms, including cleco.com, social media, TV and radio news outlets.
January 2025 Winter Storm
Press Releases
Jan. 20, 2 p.m.
Cleco prepares year-round for weather-related events
- Cleco has a tried-and-true storm plan for all storms and with each storm the company is more experienced and better prepared.
- Recent investments in Cleco's power plants, as well as transmission and distribution systems are a part of the company's reliability plan.
Here are ways Cleco is prepared:
Distribution Teams
- In addition to Cleco’s distribution and reliability personnel, the company has secured an additional 500 line mechanic and vegetation management contractors.
Generation Teams
- Cleco’s power plants have fully implemented their winterization programs and taken additional precautions to safeguard equipment from extremely cold temperatures.
- All plants are being staffed above normal operating levels.
- Last year, Cleco invested in power plant upgrades to better protect plants so they can continue to reliably generate through the extreme cold and high demand.
Transmission Teams
- All transmission, maintenance and project crews are on standby and ready to respond.
Jan. 20, 10 a.m.
Cleco is prepared for Winter Storm
- Cleco is prepared for the winter storm that is expected to bring ice, snow and low temperatures across much of Louisiana beginning overnight and continuing through tomorrow.
- All of Cleco’s distribution and reliability personnel and an additional 500 line mechanic and vegetation management contractors have been strategically staged across the state to respond to weather-related power outages.
- During winter storms, the accumulation of ice or snow can cause trees to become heavy, break and fall onto power lines causing power outages.
- This winter storm is forecasted to impact much, if not all, of Cleco’s service territory.
Jan. 15, 12 noon
Cleco monitoring potential winter storm threat
- Cleco’s service area could be impacted by extremely low temperatures, freezing rain and snow next week, according to early weather forecasts.
- Cleco has a storm plan to ensure we’re always ready to respond whether it’s a winter storm, hurricane, tornado or week-day storm. Now is a good time for customers to prepare. Make sure you have a plan for staying warm in the event of a power outage and winterize your homes and businesses to keep the heat in if temperatures drop.
How Customers Can Prepare
- Gather supplies you might need during a power outage, including flashlight, batteries, canned food, manual can opener, bottled water, medication and a first aid kit.
- Charge cell phones, tablets and laptops.
- Make sure it’s safe to travel. Elevated freeways and bridges are prone to dangerous ice build-up when they get wet during cold temperatures.
- Operate portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas and plug appliances directly into generators with grounded extension cords. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
- If using a space heater, make sure the plug isn’t frayed or torn, as it could start a fire, and keep heaters away from anything that can burn, including paper, clothing and rugs.
How Cleco Restores Power
- Safety is a priority in everything Cleco does. Once conditions are safe, workers begin to assess damage by land and/or air.
- Next, transmission and distribution lines are inspected and repaired. Transmission lines are critical to power restoration because they carry electricity from power plants to substations that deliver electricity to distribution lines which deliver electricity to homes, businesses, etc.
- Power is restored to critical community services first, such as hospitals, nursing homes, water systems, fire and police departments, etc.
- Power is then restored to the greatest number of customers in the shortest amount of time until power is restored to all customers who can receive power.
