Hurricane Gustav impacted Cleco's entire service territory, which includes 23 parishes across Louisiana.  At the height of the storm, there were 246,092 customers without power.  As of 4 p.m. today, Cleco has restored power to more than 10 percent of these customers, leaving approximately 217,980 customers without power.     

Early damage assessments show the company's transmission system, which is needed to bring the entire system back online, was hit hard.  The company lost 32 transmission lines and 14 transmission substations during the storm.  

Cleco has approximately 4,000 workers, which includes employees and outside help, to assist with storm restoration.  Power already has been restored to some critical care and government facilities in the Eastern District, which includes St. Tammany and Washington parishes.  A large percentage of customers in Cleco's Northern District, which includes DeSoto, Red River, Sabine, Natchitoches, Vernon, Beauregard and Calcasieu parishes, also should have their power restored by tonight.