Cleco offers tips to help keep customers safe before and after power is restored

PINEVILLE, La. – Aug. 30, 2020 (6:30 p.m. update) – As of 6 p.m. today, Cleco and contractor crews have restored power to over 78,000 of the 140,000 customers affected by Hurricane Laura after it made landfall in southwest Louisiana Thursday. 

Cleco offers the tips below to help keep customers safe before and after power is restored.

“We also want to remind customers that their electricity may not be turned back on due to structural damage or damage to electrical equipment on their side of the meter,” said James Lass, director of distribution operations and emergency management.  “Cleco will reconnect the electricity after a licensed electrician has made the necessary repairs and the proper authorization is received.”

What to do before and after power is restored:

• Check your property for damage.  When walking through storm damage, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes.
• Make sure the water is safe to drink.  Call local authorities or listen to news outlets for boil advisories.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers closed.
• Unplug appliances and electronic devices when the power is out (air conditioning units, refrigerators, computers, laptops, televisions, etc.)
• Operate portable generators in a well-ventilated area, never run a generator indoors, and plug appliances directly into generators with grounded extension cords that can handle the load.  Don't plug a generator cord directly into a wall outlet.  A generator can back feed electricity through your electric wiring to the entire Cleco circuit.  This can cause injury or even death to a worker attempting to repair that circuit and anyone else who comes in contact with power lines.
• If water is rising near your home or business, turn off electricity at the main breaker. Evacuate and do not return until waters have completely receded.  Wait until the water recedes and have an electrician check the building's wiring before using the electricity.

For the most up-to-date information, follow the company on Facebook @ClecoPower and visit Cleco’s website at cleco.com.

Customer outages by parish as of 6 p.m.
Acadia – 36

Allen – 5,917

Avoyelles – 1,448

Beauregard – 5,122

Calcasieu – 2,461

Catahoula - 18

Desoto – 476

Evangeline – 893

Grant – 7,157

Iberia – 7

Jefferson Davis - 39

Lasalle - 15

Natchitoches - 602

Rapides – 27,737
Red River – 27

Sabine – 3,896

St. Landry – 33

Vernon – 5,685