By Emily Burleigh

Through an energy efficiency program called Power Wise, Cleco Power Customers are eligible to receive energy saving resources for homes and businesses.

Cleco Power – a subsidiary of regional holding company Corporate Holdings LLC – is a regulated electric public utility that owns nine generating units.

In 2014, Cleco began offering an energy efficiency program through a third party. This program helped customers manage energy usage and offered discounts and rebates on energy-saving devices, appliances and services, Sabrina Salling, governmental services representative IV, Cleco, explained.

That program was brought in-house four years later and was deemed the Power Wise Energy Efficiency Program.

Residential and commercial customers can access a catalog of assessment, rebates and resources that support the installation and use of energy efficiency in homes and businesses.

She explained that the practice of energy efficiency has financial benefits.

“Programs like Power Wise benefit customers and the environment because they help lower energy usage and promote energy conservation which reduces the overall demand for electricity and decreases non-renewable emissions.”

One of the greatest opportunities for residential customers is the on-site residential weatherization assessment.

This assessment has no out-of-pocket cost. This assessment determines what upgrades their home could benefit from, and once it is complete, the contractor will inform customers what benefits they are eligible to receive. This could include air and duct sealing, attic insulation, LED bulbs, low flow faucet aerators and showerheads.

Residential customers also have access to an online home energy audit, appliance and device rebates and an online energy efficiency store that offers rebates on energy saving products like LED bulbs and smart thermostats.

Commercial customers can access financial incentives and energy savings for LED lighting assessments and upgrades, HVAC change-outs or energy efficient upgrades in commercial kitchens.

Since 2018, Power Wise has helped customers save over 132 million kilowatt-hours annually, Salling said. Additionally, Cleco contractors completed about 14,000 on–site residential weatherization assessments. Last year alone, 33 million kilowatt hours were saved by customers and 2,200 residential homes received weatherization assessments.

Last week, Cleco hosted two events alongside the Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce: an afternoon “Lunch and Learn” for business customers and an evening “Energy Solutions Seminar” for residential customers.

Nearly 50 Cleco customers attended, Salling said.

She said Cleco is committed to helping customers manage their bills all year, despite financial status.

At both of the events, the “primary focus” was the savings that are possible from the Power Wise program, additional incentives that are available for electric vehicle chargers and the MyAccount mobile app that allows customers to access their account information at any time.

In a release, Lisa Adams, the executive director of the Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce said that the program “empowers” the Beauregard community to utilize energy saving services, and that the presence of Cleco in Beauregard is vital to promote expansion.

“Our partnership with Celco is crucial in allowing us to connect with our citizens and foster growth within our community.”

Sallings echoed this and said that partnering with local organizations like the Chamber keeps Cleco connected with communities they serve. She believes their responsibility to customers goes beyond delivering safe and reliable power.”

“Cleco is a partner in the state’s economic development and growth and well-being. Giving back to communities in which we live, work and serve is fundamental to who Cleco has been for 85 years, who the company is today and who it will continue to be.”

Cleco customers can access the energy efficiency store at clecomarketplace.com.