Latest news with #Cleco
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cleco updates Northshore customers on weekend power outage
ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. (WGNO) — Officials with Cleco have released a statement regarding Sunday's power outage. Director of Corporate Communications Jennifer Cahill said the company was directed to take the 'unprecedented step' of cutting power to St. Tammany Parish customers directed by reliability coordinator MISO. 'If the power supply cannot meet the demand, periodic power outages could be needed to protect the stability of the power grid and prevent widespread lengthy outages,' said Cahill. Thousands of Entergy customers in Greater New Orleans without power At 5 p.m. on May 25, a directive was issued by MISO, to control power outages in order to prevent a prolonged outage that could impact the reliability of the power grid. 'Controlled outages are a last resort when all other options have been exhausted, and every attempt is made to notify customers before an outage occurs,' said Cahill. 'However, due to the many variables that affect the overall electric power grid, these events can occur quickly and without advance notice.' The outage happened just as temperatures were forecasted to be in the 80s. Cleco officials state that at the height of the outage, around 25,000 customers in Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Lacombe and Franklinton were without power for almost two hours. 'We apologize to our customers who experienced power loss during yesterday's mandatory service interruption,' said Cahill. 'And while we strive to give our customers advance notice of any outages, this emergency situation did not allow us the time to inform our customers ahead of time.' Warm, mostly sunny for Memorial Day An investigation into the cause of the outage is being done by Cleco officials who are working with MISO to prevent similar incidents. As of Monday, May 26, Cleco officials say the grid is Morgan's 'Just Getting Started' tour hits Shreveport Mysterious sphere in Colombia sparks UFO talk Trump wishes happy Memorial Day, including to 'scum' that was 'trying to destroy our country' Soil fungus found in at least 12 states can lead to lung infections — but officials say there is 'no reason to panic' Can Type 2 diabetes be reversed? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Power outage report as severe weather crosses Southeast Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Entergy and Cleco customers across Louisiana are experiencing power outages as a result of the recent severe weather. WGNO's weather team is predicting heavy rain and thunderstorm activity across Southeast Louisiana. Flood threat continues with more rain on the way Areas around the north shore have already received over six inches of rainfall resulting in ponding on the roads that can lead to flash flooding. (WGNO/Ashley Hamilton) Weather damage in Marrero (WGNO/Ashley Hamilton) Weather damage in Marrero (WGNO/Ashley Hamilton) Weather damage in Marrero (WGNO/Ashley Hamilton) Weather damage in Marrero Winds on the Westbank have caused power poles to snap causing power lines to fall into the street. 11 a.m. Power Outage update: Jefferson Parish — 9,173 Orleans Parish — 5,960 St. Bernard Parish — 1,427 Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
DEA fights opioid epidemic locally with National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — As the nation continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic, the DEA is making strides to get prescription drugs out of the wrong hands. That's why Saturday, April 26 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Cleco prepares for Louisiana hurricane season It's the opportunity to safely dispose of your old prescription drugs at one of the 30 sites across the state. In 2024, nearly 6,500 pounds of medications were collected in Louisiana alone. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To find your nearest drop off site, click authorities arrest Wisconsin judge Former New Mexico judge, wife arrested after investigation into alleged gang member Report: Louisiana college student shot during Spring Break robbery in Florida Judge orders Trump administration to facilitate return of second deported man Newsom: California's economy now 4th-biggest in world after overtaking Japan Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Cleco prepares for Louisiana hurricane season
LACOMBE, La. (WGNO) — A little over a month out from the start of hurricane season, a local electrical company says it's never too early to prepare. On Thursday morning in Lacombe Cleco cleared-out overgrown branches and vegetation that could knock out power in the event of a severe storm. Amtrak unveils name for new rail service from New Orleans to Mobile Workers say preventative actions like this save money for everyone. 'Trees and vegetation in and around our right-of-ways are the leading cause of power outages, blinks, and damage in normal day-to-day weather events, and especially during storms,' said Andre Guillory with Cleco. 'Preventing the damage before the storms reduces the amount of time customers are out, reduces the cost. It takes bringing crews from out of state to pick up damage and then eventually do the tree trimming that we have to do.' Cleco also reports that fewer outages are seen in the areas where workers trim the vegetation.2-year-old killed in St. Tammany Parish crash Saints select Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with their first-round pick at 9th overall Precautionary boil water advisory issued for parts of St. Bernard Parish Woman accused of Harahan girl's murder in 2023 to stand trial Cleco prepares for Louisiana hurricane season Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana Energy Efficiency Program scrapped after lengthy Public Service Commission meeting
MANY, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Louisiana's Energy Efficiency Program is being halted after the state's Public Service Commission voted on Wednesday to do away with a program they approved less than a year ago. The vote effectively ends all state-mandated energy efficiency programs, reverting energy efficiency to a voluntary program that consumers must seek out through their power providers. Northwest Louisiana's Public Service Commissioner, Foster Campbell, voted against eliminating the program approved in late April 2024, largely because he felt the commission did not fully understand what it was voting for. 'It's four o'clock in the afternoon and everybody is arguing about this that and the other and I don't want to vote for something that I don't fully understand,' said Campbell. 'So I can't vote for this at this particular time.' Extensive solar power project unveild in N. Louisiana The Public Service Commission meeting held at Cypress Bend Resort in Many, Louisiana, lasted more than five hours. Nearly an hour was spent on discussions and testimony from the agenda item sponsored by Commissioner Mike Francis, who added the item to the agenda on Monday. In the end, the state's energy efficiency program was canceled by a 3 to 2 vote. The program focused not on energy costs, but rather on making homes and businesses more energy efficient. The program required the Public Service Commission to hold energy companies accountable with specific energy savings goals. Home and business energy efficiency improvements, including appliance upgrades, new air conditioning units, and insulation, were considered key to achieving savings goals, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. Opponents say the contracts for the program were far too expensive, and the previously used 'Quick Start' Energy Program, overseen by utility companies Cleco and SWEPCO, was a better answer. 'When we have looked at the third party administrator across the country we have found that the cost per kilowatt hour savings on those third party administrators are significantly higher than the programs that are currently in place under the utility led programs in Louisiana,' said Mark Kleehammer, General Counsel & Chief Regulatory Officer for Cleco. 'I would ask that you consider maintaining the utility-led programs. We have been doing energy efficiency for 10 years. We commented on this before that the biggest misnomer about the utility-led 'Quick Start' program is that it's a quick start. We are in year 10 of these programs, and since we've started, for CLECO power only, our budget has increased by 119%, our KW (kilowatt) savings have increased by 296%.' Those advocating for the Energy Efficiency Program to stay say it addressed the true causes of power waste. 'We are decades behind on addressing energy waste. It doesn't matter how low the rate is if we are just throwing our money out the crack around our doors and windows. The auditor also pointed out that this commission is taking steps to address high energy bills through this efficiency program,' said Logan Burke, Executive Director, Alliance for Affordable Energy. 'The rational thing to do is to address the waste. The right thing to do is to ensure that people have the tools they need. So why would we stop this effort in it's tracks?' Now that the program is canceled, the commission voted to have the state revert back to the old 'Quick Start' Energy Program until the end of 2025. A commission vote at later time will determine if the 'Quick Start' program continues beyond the end of the year. 'Quick Start' allows customers to receive cost offsets and rebates for items that improve a home's energy efficiency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
