Cleco says work is underway on the largest grid resiliency investment in the power company’s history. Cleco spokesperson Brooke Buford says this is a five-year plan that includes over 550 projects.
“We’re replacing electric equipment, we’re undergrounding certain segments of the system, we’re reinforcing, or in some cases, replacing utility poles and we’re elevating substations above flood plains,” Buford explained.
Buford says these projects will reduce storm-related costs and also result in fewer outages and faster restoration times. She says they have crews replacing electric equipment, moving certain segments of the system underground and reinforcing utility poles.
“Kind of like last year, one of our main projects was trimming back trees on a more aggressive scale. This is targeting things like older utility poles that need replacement,” Buford said.
Buford says they’ve identified more than 700 utility poles for maintenance or replacement in St. Tammany Parish, Eunice, Jeanerette, New Iberia, and Pineville. She says customers can keep track of their resiliency efforts.
“You can go to Cleco.com/resiliency. We actually have a map that’s showcasing the work that’s currently being done or in the process of being done, and you can see what’s coming to your area,” Buford noted.
Buford says Cleco is the only Louisiana utility to meet or exceed the Public Service Commission standards for each of the last 27 years.