Urges Louisiana Public Service Commission and Cleco Power to approve the sale of a regulated utility only in certain circumstances
Summary
House Concurrent Resolution 11 urges the Louisiana Public Service Commission and Cleco Power to condition any sale, merger, trade, or other transfer of ownership of Cleco Power on protections for employees in central Louisiana. The resolution focuses on Cleco’s long history in the state, its role as a major employer in Rapides Parish and the Pineville headquarters, and the potential economic effects of a change in ownership.
Specifically, the resolution asks the commission and the parties to approve any transaction only if there are adequate guarantees that preserve more than 450 nonservice jobs and all service jobs at the Pineville headquarters for 10 years, and that overall employment levels for central Louisiana workers are maintained. It does not change utility regulation law directly, but instead expresses the Legislature’s policy preference and asks the Public Service Commission to use its existing authority over utility transfers to protect jobs when reviewing any proposed Cleco transaction.
Impact
HCR 11 does not amend the Louisiana Constitution, statutes, or the Public Service Commission’s general order, but it seeks to influence how the commission exercises its existing approval authority over regulated utility sales and mergers. Its practical effect is to place legislative pressure on the PSC and Cleco to include employment protections as a condition of any ownership transfer, especially for headquarters and service jobs in Pineville and the broader central Louisiana region.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial in the Legislature, passing the House 81-3, the Senate 35-0, and the House again 91-0 after Senate amendments. The votes suggest strong bipartisan concern about preserving jobs and economic stability in central Louisiana, with little visible opposition to the resolution’s overall purpose.
Contention
The main point of contention is not the general idea of protecting jobs, but the extent to which the Legislature should try to constrain a private utility transaction and the PSC’s approval process. The resolution specifically targets Cleco Power and requires long-term job guarantees, which could be viewed by some as limiting flexibility for a future buyer or merger partner. Any disagreement would likely center on whether a 10-year employment commitment is appropriate and whether such conditions could affect the attractiveness or feasibility of a sale.
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