PINEVILLE, La. – Cleco is prepared for a weather event that could bring ice and snow to its entire service territory. Forecasters predict the possibility of ice accumulation that could result in breaking limbs and trees, causing widespread power outages.

“From north to south Louisiana, Cleco and contractor crews are on standby, ready to respond to power outages,” said Anthony Bunting, vice president of transmission and distribution operations. “Ice storms can present a difficult restoration because temperatures can fall during the night and refreeze melted ice. This can cause repeat customer outages; however, we are prepared with equipment and staff needed to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.”

Predictions are for ice to accumulate on highways and roads limiting accessibility. “One of our biggest concerns is navigating road closures during this ice storm,” said Bunting. “We will keep the protection of the public and our crews as our first priority and work with local officials to ensure safety and a timely response to our customers.”

This is the second consecutive week Cleco has faced extreme winter weather conditions. Last week, much of Cleco’s service territory experienced snow and ice, causing scattered power outages. This week’s storm could have a greater impact on Cleco’s territory located in central and south Louisiana with larger amounts of snow and ice accumulation expected.

Cleco warns of downed power lines and asks customers to be cautious. Power lines on the ground can be energized and present a safety hazard. Stay away and call Cleco at 1-800-622-6537 or 911 to report a dangerous situation. If customers use generators, Cleco recommends following the manufacturer’s guidelines for safety and never plug a generator into a home’s electrical outlet to ensure the safety of Cleco’s crews.

Due to weather conditions, Cleco is closing its customer service offices in Pineville, Opelousas, New Iberia, Eunice, Crowley, Franklin, Mandeville, Slidell and Covington on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Cleco will make a decision at a later time regarding the status of these offices for Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Cleco now offers MyAccount, a quick and easy way for customers to keep their power at their fingertips. MyAccount allows customers to report outages, get restoration status updates and receive billing information through their mobile devices. Go towww.cleco.com to sign up for MyAccount and to review safety messages.