Cleco was named a recipient of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) Emergency Response Award. Presented annually to EEI member companies, the award recognizes heroic efforts by electric companies following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events.
Cleco received the Emergency Recovery Award, which recognizes an EEI member company’s efforts to safely and efficiently restore service to its customers following a major event. Cleco was honored for its response to Winter Storm Fern which impacted parts of Cleco’s service territory in January 2026.
“Winter Storm Fern brought ice, snow, sleet, and multiple days of below freezing temperatures to Cleco’s service territory,” said Clint Robichaux, Cleco’s director of distribution operations and reliability. “Despite challenges from impassable roads and downed limbs, Cleco crews worked tirelessly to restore power in a safe and efficient manner.”
Winners were selected by a panel of judges through a nomination process. The awards were presented during EEI’s September Board of Directors and Chief Executives Meeting.
“When severe weather strikes, our member companies mobilize around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as possible for the customers they serve,” said Drew Maloney, president and CEO of EEI. “EEI is proud to recognize Cleco with the Emergency Recovery Award for its outstanding response following Winter Storm Fern. This honor reflects the skill and determination of Cleco’s workforce, who prepare year-round—practicing, planning, and investing in resilience—so they’re ready to face the toughest conditions and get the lights back on for communities who depend on them.”
“Awards like this are earned through countless hours of preparation, coordination, training and hard work. Cleco’s employees always rise to the occasion when an emergency response is needed,” said Andre Guillory, chief customer officer of Cleco Power.
EEI has recognized Cleco with 32 awards since the program’s inception in 1998, earning 20 Recovery awards and 12 Assistance awards.
Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC is a regional energy holding company that conducts its business operations through Cleco Power LLC, a regulated electric utility company that owns eight generating units with a rated capacity of 2,676 MWs and serves approximately 298,000 customers in Louisiana through its retail business and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana. For more information about Cleco, visit cleco.com.