Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives

Our July/August Louisiana Country/Along These Lines editions are out! Check your mailbox or head to our website to read more! https://lnkd.in/gcd7dfEz

DEMCO is sending crews to our sister cooperative, Panola Harrison Electric Cooperative, located in Marshall, TX, to help restore power after Hurricane Beryl's landfall yesterday. Please keep our lineworkers in your thoughts and prayers! https://lnkd.in/gCNnGTVX

Last week, our Louisiana electric cooperatives sent 16 students to Washington D.C. on NRECA's Youth Tour. During the trip, the delegates learned about the cooperative business model and explored our nation's capital! This was a wonderful trip and we can't wait for 2025!

Louisiana gives back to Arkansas Following a series of storms in Louisiana over the past few weeks, Louisiana is sending crews to our sister cooperative in Arkansas, reciprocating their recent support in our restoration efforts. In line with the cooperative principles, Cooperation Among Cooperatives, DEMCO, and SLECA are traveling to North Arkansas Electric Cooperative located in Salem, Arkansas, to help with restoration efforts. Louisiana cooperatives are working under the nationwide mutual aid agreement with the coordination of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation North Arkansas Electric Coop was hit with severe thunderstorms that took out an estimated 13,000 members. NAEC serves approximately 36,000 members with over 4,500 miles of line and 27 different substation sites in eight counties. “It’s our turn to help Arkansas. They’ve sent many crews to Louisiana in the last few weeks. We’re happy to reciprocate the help,” said Ricky Melancon, Safety Coordinator for the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives. 

Nearly a dozen G&Ts and 27 states outlined the real-world impacts of the EPA power plant rule on electric reliability and affordability in court filings supporting NRECA’s request to put the rule on hold. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4aC6g8h

More than 45,000 Louisiana electric cooperative members left without power (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) – In response to the severe weather on Thursday, May 16, 2024, First Electric Cooperative (Jacksonville, AR), Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas (Little Rock, AR), and South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc.(Arkadelphia, AR) have dispatched 25–line workers and equipment to Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BECi) in DeRidder, Louisiana. Claiborne Electric Cooperative(Homer) and South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association - SLECA (Houma) sister cooperatives in the state of Louisiana dispatched a crews along with construction equipment. Assisting crews will continue to work safely and diligently to restore power to all their members. Beauregard Electric reported 22,396 outages, affecting over 53% of their system across its 7-parish area. Some of BECi’s service areas were inaccessible due to heavily damaged areas. DEMCO experienced peak outages at 5,153 on Thursday, with remaining outages less than 3,000 on Friday. Jeff Davis Electric CO-OP's system in Jennings, Louisiana, approximately 2,000 members were without power on Thursday. Jeff Davis has completed restoration. Washington-St. Tammany Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Franklinton, Louisiana, faced around 15,000 outages with two metering points impacted affecting four substations. WSTE is almost at full restoration. Please call your service provider and local authorities immediately if you see any downed powerlines or poles. Do not approach or drive over the line; stay at least 50 feet away. The Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives is a non-profit organization that represents the electric distribution cooperatives operating in Louisiana. The Louisiana Electric Cooperatives serve roughly 1 million citizens in 50 parishes. Our mutual aid network consisting of 26 states working closely with their statewide associations provides an abundant supply of personnel and equipment when it is needed the most for storm recovery.

Thank you First Electric Cooperative Corporation, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and South Central Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Arkansas for sending mutual aid to Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BECi). Crews will work throughout the weekend to restore power. Our mutual aid network consisting of 26 states working closely with their statewide associations provide an abundant supply of personnel and equipment when it is needed the most for storm recovery. #CooperationAmongCooperatives

Our Louisiana Member Services Association (LMSA) attended a Louisiana 811 informational meeting yesterday. Thank you for hosting us!

The EPA's recent power plant rule threatens energy reliability and could increase energy costs nationwide. #Voices4Coops 🚨This is unacceptable! Speak out now: https://bit.ly/4d8vLAI

Yesterday, our Louisiana electric cooperatives participated in our 2024 Legislative Cookout and Rally. This was a great way to network with our local legislators while feeding them Louisiana home cooking! Thank you to all who participated!