Louisiana Electricity Rates
Rate data for Louisiana is being refreshed. The regulator and market facts below are current; figures return with the next data load.
Can you choose your electricity supplier in Louisiana?
No. Louisiana has not opened its residential electricity market to competition, so the utility that delivers your power also sells it. Its prices are set in rate cases before the Louisiana Public Service Commission, and the rate you pay depends on which utility serves your address, your rate schedule, and the season.
Grid operator: MISO and SPP (split). Wholesale power costs flow through to retail bills on the regulator's schedule rather than month to month, which is why regulated-state rates move more slowly than the market-based states listed below.
Want to shop for a supplier? Retail choice is open on this site in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington DC.
You cannot shop for a supplier and you will probably pay a deposit sized by the utility rather than by any statewide rule ($150 at Entergy Louisiana, $215 in New Orleans where the City Council, not the PSC, writes the rules, $100-$300 at Cleco), and although Louisiana's residential rate is the fourth-lowest in the country, the highest household usage of any state plus storm-cost riders on Entergy Louisiana and SWEPCO bills mean the average bill lands within $2 of the national average.
Who will deliver your power in Louisiana
The utility is fixed by your address. These are the largest in the state, with what each says it needs from a new customer.
Entergy Louisianainvestor-owned
Entergy Corporation subsidiary regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, serving 58 of Louisiana's 64 parishes (including East Baton Rouge, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Lafayette and Ouachita, but only a portion of Madisonville in St. Tammany); bills carry one of two rate codes, LA_RS (rate schedule RS-L) or GS_RS (rate schedule RS-G). About approximately 1.1 million electric customers as of Dec. 31, 2025 (per Entergy Louisiana).
Start, stop or move service through myEntergy.com (the residential page links new customers to myentergy.com/s/newservice); customer service is 800-ENTERGY (800-368-3749), Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, and the contact page tells new customers to sign up at myEntergy.com. New customers may be required to pay a security deposit: the posted residence initial electric deposit is $150, a location with billing history can be charged up to two times its highest bill, and the deposit is billed in one installment that must be paid in full by the first bill's due date with no payment arrangements allowed.
Start service with Entergy Louisiana →Sources: entergylouisiana.com, entergylouisiana.com, entergylouisiana.com, entergylouisiana.com, entergylouisiana.com
Entergy New Orleansinvestor-owned
Entergy subsidiary serving Orleans Parish (the City of New Orleans) only; it is regulated by the New Orleans City Council rather than the Louisiana Public Service Commission. About approximately 209,000 electric customers as of Dec. 31, 2025 (per Entergy New Orleans).
Start, stop or move service through myEntergy.com (the residential page links to myentergy.com/s/newservice), or visit the East Bank Care Center at 3400 Canal Street or the West Bank Care Center at 4021 Behrman Hwy., Suite J. Under the Council-approved service regulations (Resolution R-26-129, March 26, 2026) Entergy may require adequate identification, new applicants may opt into credit scoring by an independent consumer reporting agency, and a $215 residential electric deposit may be assessed where the applicant has no credit score, declines scoring, or is not eligible for a waiver; the deposit is due in full by the first bill's due date and is refunded automatically after 24 months of service when the last 12 months show no late payments, returned payments or suspensions.
Start service with Entergy New Orleans →Sources: entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com
SWEPCO (Southwestern Electric Power Company)investor-owned
American Electric Power subsidiary headquartered in Shreveport, serving northwestern and central Louisiana (plus western Arkansas and East Texas); its 2010 purchase of Valley Electric Membership Corporation added about 30,000 customers in eight Louisiana parishes. About 556,100 customers across Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas (per SWEPCO); its 2022 Louisiana smart-meter filing covered 234,000 Louisiana customers.
Start service online by address or meter number, or call the Customer Operations Center at 888-216-3523. Your Social Security number is optional and is used to check credit history; without it a deposit or other security guarantee is required, and a deposit may be required even with it. On the Louisiana tab of the deposits page, deposits are normally required from customers new to SWEPCO, sized by heating type or usage history at the address, earn 3.00% a year once held at least six months, are applied back to the account after one year provided no more than two bills were paid late, and can be replaced by an acceptable guarantor or a letter of credit from another utility showing 12 months of on-time payment.
Start service with SWEPCO →Sources: swepco.com, swepco.com, swepco.com, swepco.com, swepco.com
Cleco Powerinvestor-owned
LPSC-regulated utility based in Pineville serving 24 Louisiana parishes, including Rapides, Calcasieu, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington, St. Mary, Iberia, Vermilion, Evangeline, Natchitoches, Sabine and Vernon. About approximately 298,000 customers in Louisiana (per Cleco's 10-K for 2025); the company's About page says approximately 295,000 customers in 24 parishes.
Complete the online Start Service Form; orders are completed Monday through Friday except holidays, dates are not guaranteed, and a request that is not future-dated is dated for the next business day. Cleco needs your name, identifying information such as a Social Security number or driver's license, the 911 address and the connection date; a $15 connect fee goes on the first bill, a third party (ONLINE Utilities Exchange, 800-286-2487) makes the deposit decision from your credit file, deposits run from a $100 minimum to as high as $300 (or equal to or double the highest bill at the location for higher-risk applicants) and earn 5% interest paid monthly as a bill credit, and a parish or city permit may be required. Customer service is 1-800-622-6537, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Start service with Cleco Power →Sources: cleco.com, cleco.com, cleco.com, cleco.com, sec.gov
DEMCO (Dixie Electric Membership Corporation)cooperative
Member-owned cooperative founded in 1938 serving seven parishes around Baton Rouge: Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa and West Feliciana; its rates are set by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, with new base rates effective January 2026. Louisiana's electric cooperatives together serve roughly 1 million people in 50 of 64 parishes. About 120,168 meters (per DEMCO's 2025 annual report).
Apply online (review city/parish permit requirements first); within two business days you get an email confirming the request is in process and listing any documents still needed. A $70 connect fee is included in the first month's bill (the Schedule of Charges and Deposits also lists a $100 after-hours connect fee and a $5 membership fee), a deposit is required before connection, credit checks are run on every application by a third-party vendor, the deposit cannot exceed the estimated charges for 75 days of service, and deposits earn 5% simple interest once held six months.
Start service with DEMCO →Sources: demco.org, demco.org, demco.org, demco.org, demco.org, alec.coop
Deposits, ID, and supplier choice in Louisiana
Deposits. There is no single statewide deposit schedule: the LPSC's General Rules and Regulations page posts no statewide deposit amount or schedule, so each utility's deposit terms live in its own LPSC-filed tariff (SWEPCO's standard terms say a customer 'if requested by the Company' will make and maintain a reasonable deposit that earns interest, and DEMCO points to its Schedule of Charges and Deposits on file with the LPSC). Posted amounts range from Entergy Louisiana's $150 initial residence deposit and Cleco's $100-$300 credit-based deposit to Entergy New Orleans' $215 under City Council rules. (lpsc.louisiana.gov)
Choosing a supplier. No residential supplier choice: EIA's 2024 Louisiana profile records all 95,356,829 MWh of retail sales as full-service provider sales and zero energy-only (competitive supplier) sales, so your address fixes your utility. The LPSC regulates the investor-owned utilities and all electric cooperatives but not municipally owned systems, and Entergy New Orleans answers to the New Orleans City Council (https://www.eia.gov/electricity/state/louisiana/; https://www.lpsc.louisiana.gov/Complaints; https://www.entergyneworleans.com/about).
Louisiana's 2024 average retail price of 8.80 cents per kWh ranked 50th of 51 (only North Dakota, at 7.93 cents, was lower) and its residential price of 11.73 cents was the fourth-lowest, but residential customers used 1,202 kWh a month, the most of any state, so the average bill of $140.96 sat just under the U.S. average of $142.26. Bills also carry storm financing: Entergy Louisiana's storm restoration charge pays off the 2020 hurricanes, the February 2021 winter storms and Hurricane Ida (charges began June 2022 and April 2023, with Isaac charges expiring in 2026), and SWEPCO's 'Financed Storm Cost Rider' adds 5.8546% to residential base-rate revenue. LPSC General Order R-29706 bars disconnecting a residential customer when the previous day's highest temperature did not exceed 32°F and the temperature is predicted to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the nearest National Weather Service reports, or when the nearest NWS office issues a heat advisory.
Sources: lpsc.louisiana.gov, lpsc.louisiana.gov, lpsc.louisiana.gov, swepco.com, demco.org, entergylouisiana.com, entergyneworleans.com, cleco.com, eia.gov, eia.gov, eia.gov, entergylouisiana.com, lpscpubvalence.lpsc.louisiana.gov
Help paying an electric bill in Louisiana
Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), delivered through local community action agencies (public inquiries 225-763-8700)
Total household income at or below 60% of the Louisiana state median income (2026 limits: $30,618 for one person, $40,039 for two, $58,882 for four), with an active heating/cooling account in your name, a government-issued photo ID and Social Security cards for everyone in the household, utility bills and pay stubs from the last 30 days and proof of address; one benefit per season. LHC's 2026 schedule runs heating December 15 to March 31, cooling April 13 to September 30 and crisis year-round (crisis applications are not taken online); the federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse profile instead lists heating November 15 to March 15 and cooling April 1 to September 30, and lists FY2026 benefits of $200 to $800 for heating or cooling and up to $1,000 for crisis.
Sources: lhc.la.gov, lhc.la.gov, liheapch.acf.gov
Weatherization Assistance Program (Louisiana)
Louisiana Housing Corporation, through local weatherization providers
Household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (PY2025 limits through June 30, 2026: $31,300 for one person, $64,300 for four); measures can include insulation, air sealing, weather-stripping and duct sealing, and availability is not guaranteed.
Sources: lhc.la.gov, lhc.la.gov
Entergy Solutions Income-Qualified Solutions / The Power to Care (Entergy Louisiana)
Entergy Louisiana (Entergy Solutions, 844-829-1300) and local nonprofit agencies for The Power to Care
Entergy Louisiana customers who meet LIHEAP income eligibility or whose head of household is 65 or older can get direct-install measures (advanced power strip, smart thermostat, showerheads and aerators with electric water heating) and air-conditioner tune-ups, ceiling insulation, air sealing and duct sealing at no additional cost; Orleans Parish customers are sent to EnergySmartNOLA.info instead. The Power to Care provides emergency bill-payment help to seniors and disabled customers through local nonprofit agencies.
Sources: entergylouisiana.com, entergylouisiana.com, entergy.com, liheapch.acf.gov
Energy Smart (Entergy New Orleans)
Entergy New Orleans (Energy Smart Solutions Center 504-229-6868)
Any residential or commercial Entergy New Orleans electric customer is eligible; the program pays cash incentives for energy audits and upgrades through trained contractors and reports more than $61.4 million in incentives to over 135,000 participants since 2010.
Source: entergyneworleans.com
Cleco Power, with community action agencies (CARE) and the Louisiana Association of Councils on Aging (Power of Sharing, 1-800-622-6537)
CARE gives a 25% discount on the fuel portion of the bill year-round to customers who meet LIHEAP income guidelines and enroll through their community action agency (LIHEAP recipients are enrolled automatically); Power Wise weatherization (1-833-373-6842) provides assessments, attic insulation and air/duct sealing to qualified customers at no out-of-pocket cost, first come first served; the Power of Sharing Fund helps elderly customers on low or fixed incomes through 16 Councils on Aging.
Source: cleco.com
SWEPCO with the United Way of Shreveport and local agencies (1-888-216-3523)
SWEPCO matches customer donations dollar for dollar up to $2,500 a month; applicants must bring a disconnection notice to the local agency administering the funds.
Source: liheapch.acf.gov
Programs that change what you pay
- Rooftop solar (net metering)limited
- Under LPSC General Order R-33929 (September 19, 2019) systems installed before 2020 keep full-retail credit for exported power through December 31, 2034, while newer systems (up to 25 kW residential) pay the retail rate for everything they buy and get only the utility's avoided cost for surplus sent to the grid: $0.0259331 per kWh at Entergy Louisiana (effective April 1, 2025) and $0.03847 per kWh at DEMCO (March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027, plus a $200 net-metering installation fee). Entergy New Orleans is separate: Council Schedule NM-4 nets kWh month to month, rolls excess forward, pays leftover credits at avoided cost only when you leave, charges a $50 residential meter installation fee and bars interconnection in the Downtown Network Area including the French Quarter.
Sources: demco.org, entergylouisiana.com, demco.org, demco.org, entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com
- Community solarlimited
- New Orleans has a City Council Community Solar Program (Council Resolution R-25-352) administered by Entergy New Orleans, with a posted subscriber credit rate of $0.14798 per kWh for low-income and $0.12798 per kWh for other residential subscribers in September 2026; Entergy's utility-owned rooftop program (ReNEWable Orleans, $30 monthly credit, 100 homeowners) is closed to new applicants. Outside Orleans Parish, Entergy Louisiana refers developers to the LPSC's community distributed generation rules and Cleco lists an optional Community Distributed Generation (CDG) rider, but neither posts a subscription offer for residents.
Sources: entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com, entergylouisiana.com, cleco.com
- Time-of-use ratesavailable
- Opt-in only: DEMCO's residential TOU rate (12-month commitment) charges $0.06958 per kWh for summer on-peak 1-8 p.m. against $0.03479 off-peak and $0.00500 super off-peak 11 p.m.-5 a.m. (standard delivery rate $0.03985-$0.04635, wholesale power charge extra, $16.50 grid access charge); SWEPCO's Residential Service Time-of-Use Pilot (February 2025, AMI meter required) bills $0.1604 per kWh for summer super on-peak 3-7 p.m., $0.1095 on-peak and $0.0318 off-peak 11 p.m.-5 a.m. before fuel adjustments; Cleco's TOUCH pilot prices weekday 1-7 p.m. usage May through September at on-peak rates for a 12-month term, with enrollment invitations normally in December.
Sources: demco.org, swepco.com, cleco.com
Questions people ask before moving to Louisiana
How far ahead should I set up electricity before moving to Louisiana?
Cleco dates any request that is not future-dated for the next business day, completes orders Monday through Friday except holidays and does not guarantee dates, and DEMCO sends a confirmation email within two business days of your online application, so a few business days' notice covers an existing meter. Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans route new customers to myEntergy.com (800-368-3749, weekdays 7 a.m.-7 p.m. CT) and SWEPCO to its online start form or 888-216-3523, and neither publishes a lead time.
Sources: cleco.com, cleco.com, demco.org, entergylouisiana.com, entergylouisiana.com, swepco.com
Will I have to pay a deposit to start electric service in Louisiana?
Probably, and the amount depends on the utility: Entergy Louisiana posts a $150 initial residence deposit (up to twice the highest bill at a location with history) due in full by the first bill, Entergy New Orleans assesses $215 unless credit scoring waives it, Cleco charges $100 to $300 based on a third-party credit decision plus a $15 connect fee, DEMCO runs a credit check on every application and can hold up to 75 days of estimated charges plus a $70 connect fee and $5 membership, and SWEPCO sizes deposits by heating type or usage history and lets a guarantor or another utility's 12-month credit letter stand in. Cleco and DEMCO pay 5% interest on deposits and SWEPCO pays 3.00%; SWEPCO applies the deposit back to your account after one year if no more than two bills were paid late, and Entergy New Orleans refunds after 24 months.
Sources: entergylouisiana.com, entergyneworleans.com, cleco.com, demco.org, demco.org, swepco.com
Can I shop for a cheaper electricity supplier in Louisiana?
No. EIA's 2024 profile shows zero energy-only (competitive supplier) retail sales in Louisiana, so the utility that serves your address is the only one you can buy from, with rates set by the Louisiana Public Service Commission for investor-owned utilities and cooperatives, by the New Orleans City Council for Entergy New Orleans, and by city governments for municipal systems the LPSC does not regulate.
Sources: eia.gov, lpsc.louisiana.gov, lpsc.louisiana.gov, entergyneworleans.com
Louisiana has some of the cheapest electricity in the country, so why is my bill not small?
EIA's 2024 data puts Louisiana's residential price at 11.73 cents per kWh, fourth-lowest in the nation, but the average home used 1,202 kWh a month, more than any other state and far above the 863 kWh U.S. average, so the typical bill of $140.96 was almost exactly the national $142.26. On top of that, bills carry storm financing: Entergy Louisiana's storm restoration charges for the 2020 hurricanes, 2021 winter storms and Hurricane Ida started in June 2022 and April 2023, and SWEPCO's Financed Storm Cost Rider adds 5.8546% to residential base-rate charges.
Sources: eia.gov, eia.gov, entergylouisiana.com, entergylouisiana.com, swepco.com
What is different about setting up power in New Orleans?
Entergy New Orleans is regulated by the New Orleans City Council (its Utility, Cable, Telecommunications and Technology Committee), not the LPSC, so it has its own service regulations, a $215 residential deposit, a City Council community solar program, the Energy Smart efficiency program and net-metering Schedule NM-4 that bars rooftop interconnection downtown and in the French Quarter. Disputes go first to Entergy as an informal complaint and then, within 10 calendar days of its written answer, to the Council Utilities Regulatory Office as a formal complaint.
Sources: entergyneworleans.com, council.nola.gov, entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com, entergyneworleans.com
Where do I get help paying an electric bill in Louisiana?
Apply for LIHEAP through the Louisiana Housing Corporation's statewide online portal or your parish community action agency if your household income is at or below 60% of state median income ($58,882 for a family of four in 2026); on LHC's 2026 schedule cooling applications run April 13 to September 30 and heating December 15 to March 31 (the federal LIHEAP Clearinghouse lists April 1 to September 30 and November 15 to March 15). Cleco customers who qualify for LIHEAP also get the CARE 25% fuel-charge discount, Entergy Louisiana offers no-cost Income-Qualified Solutions upgrades to LIHEAP-eligible or 65-plus households, and Entergy's Power to Care and SWEPCO's Neighbor to Neighbor cover emergencies.
Sources: lhc.la.gov, cleco.com, entergylouisiana.com, entergy.com, liheapch.acf.gov
Researched 2026-10-16 from utility, regulator, and agency pages; every statement links to where it was read. Rules change: confirm deposits and program dates with the utility or agency before you rely on them.
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