Natchitoches to begin receiving wholesale electricity from LEPA
January 29, 2025
The Louisiana Energy & Power Authority (LEPA) will soon provide wholesale electrical power to the City of Natchitoches. Natchitoches is the twelfth member city to receive its wholesale electrical power from LEPA.
The LEPA Board of Directors unanimously approved the contract between LEPA and the City of Natchitoches at its January meeting. The Natchitoches City Council also approved the wholesale electricity contract with LEPA. The city will begin receiving its wholesale electricity from LEPA in June 2025.
“We are excited to have Natchitoches join the eleven other LEPA member towns and cities to receive reliable and stable electricity directly from the organization created for them and their citizens,” said LEPA General Manager Bihm. “This not only helps to strengthen the LEPA organization, but also lowers electrical costs for all of these cities in the process.”
Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams, Jr. said, “As mayor of the great City of Natchitoches, I understand that the responsibility of my administration is not just to ensure power continues to flow throughout our city, but to do so in a way that benefits all residents and businesses. This is a decision that not only affects us at present, but also well into the future. We knew we were not just selecting a provider. We needed to select a partner who would share in our vision for a sustainable, equitable, and resilient community. We were seeking a supplier that not only prioritizes affordability, but also customer service. In selecting LEPA as our energy partner, we are confident that in addition to meeting our energy needs of today, we are embarking on a journey together to meet our energy needs for future generations to come.”
Created by the State Legislature in 1979, LEPA has a membership of 20 cities and towns in Louisiana that own their municipal power systems. As a joint action agency, LEPA works to provide its member communities with firm, stable sources of electricity at the lowest possible cost.
The twelve full requirements cities are Abbeville, Gueydan, Jonesville, Morgan City, New Roads, Plaquemine, Rayne, St. Martinville, Vidalia, Welsh, Winnfield and Natchitoches. Other member cities in LEPA include Alexandria, Erath, Houma, Kaplan, Lafayette, Minden, Ruston and Vinton.
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Shown at the contract signing for Natchitoches to begin receiving its wholesale electrical power from LEPA are, Front Row from left: Jonesville Mayor Loria Hollins, Natchitoches Asst. Utility Director Bukar Mohammed, Natchitoches Utility Director Matt Anderson, Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams, Jr., Rayne Mayor Chuck Robichaux, St. Martinville Mayor Jason Willis, Abbeville Mayor Roslyn White, and LEPA General Manager Kevin Bihm.
Back row, from left: Natchitoches Consultant Frank Ledoux, Erath Mayor Taylor Mencacci, Natchitoches Electrical Superintendent David Dobson, LUS Director Jeffrey Stewart, Plaquemine Mayor JB Barker, Plaquemine Utility Director Paul Seawell, and New Roads Mayor Theron Smith.
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Jeffrey Stewart of LUS Recognized as LEPA’s 2024 Chairman of the Board; Mayor Chuck Robichaux installed as 2025 Chairman
January 29, 2025
At the LEPA Board of Directors meeting in January, Jeffrey Stewart was recognized by the Board for his role as Chairman in 2024. “The organization had three major accomplishments in 2024 under Mr. Stewart’s leadership. LEPA made history by welcoming in the City of Ruston as its 20th Member, Abbeville and Gueydan began receiving wholesale electricity from LEPA in June, and LEPA introduced state legislation to modify its 1979 enabling act”, said LEPA General Manager Kevin Bihm.
City of Rayne Mayor Chuck Robichaux has been named the Chairman of the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA) Board of Directors for 2025. Robichaux has been on the Board for 10 years, and previously served in all officer positions, including serving as chairman in 2017, 2018 and 2021.
“Chuck is a proven leader not only in the community of Rayne, but he is a positive influence on municipal government in the State of Louisiana and we are fortunate to have him as Chairman of the LEPA Board once again”, said General Manager Bihm.
Other officers include Mayor Jason Willis of St. Martinville, Vice Chairman; and Mayor Roslyn White of Abbeville, Secretary/Treasurer. The remaining LEPA Operating Committee members for 2025 include Mayor Buz Craft of Vidalia and Mayor Mike Kloesel of Kaplan.
LEPA is a joint-action agency based in Lafayette and is made up of 20 member municipalities, each owning their own municipal electrical systems. LEPA members include Abbeville, Alexandria, Erath, Gueydan, Houma, Jonesville, Kaplan, Lafayette, Minden, Morgan City, Natchitoches, New Roads, Plaquemine, Rayne, Ruston, St. Martinville, Vidalia, Vinton, Welsh and Winnfield.
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Jeffrey Stewart of LUS is recognized as outgoing LEPA Chairman.
Shown from left are LEPA General Manager Kevin Bihm, LEPA 2024 Chairman, LUS Director Jeffrey Stewart; and LEPA 2025 Chairman, Rayne Mayor Chuck Robichaux.
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Ruston joins LEPA, and makes history as the Authority’s 20th Member
July 23, 2024
The Louisiana Energy & Power Authority (LEPA) now has the largest membership in its 45-year history. The City of Ruston was accepted as a member of LEPA at the Authority’s Board of Directors meeting in July, making Ruston the 20th municipality in Louisiana to join the agency.
“By joining LEPA, we not only enhance our energy reliability, but also ensure a resilient future for our community, and leverage the collective strengths of every member city,” said Andrew Halbrook, Public Works Utilities Manager for the City of Ruston. “This alliance enhances our city's preparedness in times of need and allows us to support other LEPA communities throughout the state, ensuring a brighter, interconnected future for all.”
Kevin Bihm, LEPA General Manager, noted, “The City of Ruston and LEPA have worked together for many decades, and it is great to finally see that relationship culminate with Ruston becoming LEPA’s 20th Member. They not only increase our membership to a historic level, but they also bring the ability to share resources, mutual aid and ideas that benefit all LEPA Members. They will be a valuable addition to the LEPA organization.”
LEPA was established by the Louisiana Legislature in 1979 and works to provide member communities with firm, stable sources of electricity at the lowest possible cost. The other member cities of LEPA include: Abbeville, Alexandria, Erath, Gueydan, Houma, Jonesville, Kaplan, Lafayette, Minden, Morgan City, Natchitoches, New Roads, Plaquemine, Rayne, St. Martinville, Vidalia, Vinton, Welsh and Winnfield.
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Shown in the photo (from left to right): Kevin Bihm, LEPA General Manager; Mayor Jason Willis of St. Martinville, LEPA Secretary/Treasurer; Andrew Halbrook, Public Works Utilities Manager for the City of Ruston, LEPA Board Member; Jeffrey Stewart, Director for the Lafayette Utilities System, LEPA Board Chairman; Mayor Chuck Robichaux of Rayne, LEPA Vice-Chairman; and David Bergeron, LEPA Assistant General Manager.
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Abbeville, Gueydan pick LEPA as new electricity provider
January 26, 2024
The City of Abbeville and Town of Gueydan have both selected the Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA) as their wholesale electric provider.
The agreements were adopted by the Board of Aldermen of both municipalities in January, and by the LEPA Board of Directors at its meeting on January 18. LEPA is now the wholesale electric provider for 11 municipalities in Louisiana. The other nine LEPA Full Requirements members include Jonesville, Morgan City, New Roads, Plaquemine, Rayne, St. Martinville, Vidalia, Welsh, and Winnfield.
“We were able to show the officials of both Abbeville and Gueydan that LEPA provides very competitive power rates to its Full Requirements Members, along with a host of other benefits,” said LEPA General Manager Kevin Bihm. “Not only will this new contract provide Abbeville and Gueydan with competitive rates, but because LEPA is a non-profit organization, it will also provide additional savings to the other nine LEPA Full Requirements Members through the sharing of fixed costs. This is evidence that LEPA is fulfilling its mission to provide member cities with firm, stable sources of electricity at the lowest possible cost.”
LEPA was created by the State Legislature in 1979 as the joint-action agency for the State of Louisiana. LEPA’s current membership is comprised of 19 cities and towns that own their electric distribution systems. Other Louisiana cities that are members of LEPA include Alexandria, Erath, Houma, Kaplan, Lafayette, Minden, Natchitoches, and Vinton.
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Shown after execution of the Full Requirements agreement are, from left, LEPA Vice Chairman Mayor Chuck Robichaux of Rayne, Mayor Mike Kloesel of Kaplan, Mayor Taylor Mencacci of Erath, Mayor Roslyn White of Abbeville, LEPA Chairman and LUS Director Jeffrey Stewart, Mayor Jude Reese of Gueydan, LEPA General Manager Kevin Bihm, and LEPA Assistant General Manager David Bergeron.