CLECO
 | |
| Public | |
| Traded as | NYSE: CNL |
| Industry | Energy industry |
| Headquarters | Pineville, Louisiana |
| Services | Electricity |
Number of employees | 1,300 (2009) |
| Slogan | "Energy Smart" |
| Website |
www |
Cleco (formerly the Central Louisiana Electric Company) was founded in January 1935 and is an energy services company headquartered in Pineville, La. It operates a regulated electric utility company, Cleco Power, that serves approximately 281,000 customers across Louisiana. Cleco also operates an unregulated wholesale energy business, Cleco Midstream, with approximately 775 megawatts of generating capacity.
In April 2003, Cleco announced the appointment of Stephen M. Carter, who joined Cleco in 1988, as vice president of regulated generation.[1]
Operations
Cleco's existing power generation operations utilize a mix of fuels including; western coal, lignite, petroleum coke, and natural gas. Its electricity is transmitted and provided to customers in 23 of Louisiana's 64 parishes.
In 2010, Cleco placed into service its $1 billion new power generation facility Madison Unit 3 north of Alexandria, Louisiana. The new facility will utilize solid fuels including waste refinery coke which is available in Louisiana because of the many refinery operations in the state.