Energy efficiency is here to stay!

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Louisiana is number forty-eight when it comes to energy efficiency. This was a major hurdle in getting Cleco’s rural communities involved in energy efficiency initiatives.  Cleco Power Wise used multiple platforms to get the community involved including customer service office visits, tradeshow events, open presentations, bill inserts, digital advertising and radio promotion.  The team found that in those rural areas, the most effective platform was customer service office visits.  This gave the team the opportunity to speak to their customers directly and encourage them to not only participate, but to also spread the word to family and friends.

In Program Year 5 (“PY5”) the program expanded its residential offerings. With the residential weatherization program, customers can sign up for an in-home weatherization audit that includes an assessment of the home. If they qualify, this assessment may include duct sealing, air sealing, and insulation measures, as well as installation of LED bulbs and possibly low-flow water measures.  This weatherization program also includes the multi-family market, where we have excelled in providing weatherization to low-income and elderly customers’ homes.

Additionally, Cleco Power Wise also offers direct rebates where a customer can receive an incentive check for the purchase of energy efficient appliances such as air conditioners, water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, room air conditioners, smart thermostats and pool pumps.  We also launched a website called Cleco Marketplace where customers can purchase energy efficient items at already discounted rates.                         

In order to target more rural communities, Cleco Power Wise implemented a retail lighting program that stocked Dollar General stores in Cleco service territories with lighting displays containing packs of two 60 watt LED bulbs for $1.00.  Going along with Cleco’s vision of “Connecting Louisiana’s Future,” they also started an Early Education program.  This program gives 6th grade teachers in Cleco territory the opportunity to sign up to receive a complete energy efficiency curriculum including teaching materials, posters and a DVD.  The teacher also receives an energy efficiency kit for every student in their classroom to bring home. The kit contains energy efficient items (LED bulbs, a power strip, low-flow water measures, etc.) and activities for the student to complete with their parent.  If the teacher receives 80% participation from the class, the teacher receives a $50 gift card to use towards their classroom. 

Cleco Power Wise also provides small and large commercial lighting retrofit incentives.  Since bringing the program in-house in May of 2018, the program has been able to assist in LED lighting retrofits for 34 schools and school board premises, 12 governmental premises, and 161 other small and large commercial premises for an achieved realized savings of 21,095,154.00 kWh in energy savings and 2,587.46 kW in realized demand savings.

Cleco has only just begun to see the benefit of a utility participating in energy efficiency programs through customer satisfaction levels.  The company has recently undergone a program change in all areas of customer service and distribution, causing a drop in customer satisfaction levels.  Remarkably, the energy efficiency initiative has helped regain customer confidence in Cleco. We value our communities, and it is understood company-wide that giving back to them is essential in growing our business. Energy efficient customers equal happy customers. Happy customers equal successful utility.