PINEVILLE, La. – Cleco has restored power to over half of the nearly 10,000 central Louisiana customers who experienced outages after severe thunderstorms impacted the area.

Cleco, along with contractor crews, are continuing to assess the damage and work on restoration efforts. Damage includes broken poles, broken cross arms and extensive downed wire from trees and limbs impacting the electric system as strong winds blew through the area.  

“All available Cleco crews and vegetation personnel, as well as 85 additional line mechanics who traveled to central Louisiana from north Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Florida will continue to work around the clock until all customers are restored,” said James Lass, Cleco general manager of distribution operations and emergency management. “Our reports indicate over 100 poles were broken during the storm. Of those, nearly 70 are in the Pineville region.”

As of 5 p.m., Cleco had 5,569 customers without power.

“We appreciate our customers’ patience as crews work safely and efficiently to restore power,” said Lass. “Cleco expects that some of these outages will last overnight and asks that customers with medical needs and small children make the necessary arrangements for tonight.”  

Cleco warns that downed power lines can be energized and dangerous. Stay away from all power lines and do not attempt to move an object that is touching a downed line. Call 911 or Cleco at 1-800-622-6537 to report a dangerous situation with electricity.