Side by side (LA, EIA-861)
| Metric | Cleco Power LLC | Southwestern Electric Power Co |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 12.33 | 13.46 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 12.44 | 12.77 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,332 | $1,454 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 251,927 | 207,011 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Counties served in LA | 24 | 11 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Cleco Power LLC · Southwestern Electric Power Co · Louisiana overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: DeSoto · Grant · Natchitoches · Red River · Sabine · Vernon counties (LA, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Cleco Power LLC and Southwestern Electric Power Co do not compete for the same meters. Louisiana is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (lpsc.louisiana.gov). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Cleco Power LLC cheaper than Southwestern Electric Power Co?
- Yes — in 2024 Cleco Power LLC customers averaged 12.33 cents/kWh versus 13.46 for Southwestern Electric Power Co (EIA-861). Cleco Power LLC was cheaper by 1.13 cents, about $122 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Southwestern Electric Power Co to Cleco Power LLC?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Louisiana has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Southwestern Electric Power Co more expensive than Cleco Power LLC?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Southwestern Electric Power and Cleco Power territory all feed the 1.13-cent gap.