SLEMCO was formed in 1937 as a private membership corporation, governed by a board of directors and an appointed management team. Sound business decisions and wise investments throughout the years have provided customers, large and small, with reliable electric power at the lowest possible cost. The oil crisis of the mid-80s brought a unique challenge to the Acadiana area where many industries were dependent on a faltering oil industry. Diversification was desperately needed and SLEMCO stepped forward with aggressive economic development endeavors to attract new loads to its system and businesses to the area. The Enterprise Center of Louisiana (ECOL), a small business incubator project, was spearheaded by SLEMCO to help fledgling businesses with potential establish themselves and mature into successful, job-producing enterprises. ECOL is now owned and operated by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Community involvement has always been important to SLEMCO to improve the quality of life for customers and other members of the community. Endowed professorships, college scholarships and Operation Round-Up grants for the needy have all become synonymous with SLEMCO. SLEMCO has succeeded as an electric utility for 75 years because of sound business decisions and wise investments in plant and personnel. Poised for entry into a completely changed electric utility industry, SLEMCO is focused, committed and prepared to navigate successfully through the coming years of change, while protecting the power supply interests of its customers.
