Cleco customers to receive $475 credit

Evangeline Parish residents will be getting a bit of relief this summer.
Cleco Power LLC announced Monday that beginning on Friday, July 1, 2016 that retail customers will see lower energy bills due to a one-time credit of $475 per customer account. The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) ordered the one-time credit as part of a set of commitments the new owners agreed upon to acquire the energy giant.
To be eligible to receive the credit, Cleco customers who have a valid 13-digit account number at the end of the business day on Thursday, June 30, 2016. Cleco will then apply the credit to each account for those customers with multiple accounts.
“We are pleased the credit is coming at a time when our customers begin to use more energy because of the summer heat,” Cleco Vice President of Customer Experience Shirley Turner said in a statement. “For many of our customers a portion of the credit will roll over for several months. This will be a big help to those who struggle to cover all of their bills each month.”
Cleco will apply the credit of $475 to a customer’s bill in July. If the customer’s bill for July is less than the credit amount, a credit balance will simply roll over to the bill for the month of August. The credit balance will continue to roll over each month until the credit is fully exhausted.
“This credit is just one way we are showing our commitment to our customers and ensuring they receive a direct benefit from our transaction,” CEO and President of Cleco Darren Olagues said in a statement. “Supporting our customers and the communities where we live and work will remain a top priority for us as we plan for our company’s future.”
Cleco was purchased by a North American-led investor group this past April. To gain approval, the new owners agreed to 77 commitments that benefit the company’s customers, employees, retirees and communities.
Cleco serves 287,000 retail customers in Louisiana and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana and Mississippi.