News & Events
FUELED Highlights Grid Resilience & Disaster Recovery with Mike Heinen, CEO of JDEC

News & Events

FUELED Highlights Grid Resilience & Disaster Recovery with Mike Heinen, CEO of JDEC

July 15, 2026

FUELED: Powering Louisiana’s Future continues its exploration of Louisiana’s electric industry with a closer look at the leadership, planning, and resilience required to power communities across southwest Louisiana.

In Episode 3, Kathryn Fenstermaker sits down with Mike Heinen, CEO of Jeff Davis Electric Co-op (JDEC), to discuss the challenges of maintaining reliable electric service, strengthening infrastructure against future storms, and preparing the cooperative for continued growth and change.

Drawing on decades of experience, Heinen shares how lessons learned from major hurricanes have shaped JDEC’s approach to resiliency, why transmission investments are becoming increasingly important, and how cooperative values continue to guide decision-making in an evolving energy landscape.

Episode Highlights

Recovering from hurricanes and strengthening the electric grid for future storms.
The importance of transmission infrastructure and regional partnerships.
Building a more resilient electric system through strategic planning and long-term investment.
Balancing affordability, reliability, and service for cooperative members.
Supporting economic growth while preparing for increasing energy demand.
How electric cooperatives work together through mutual aid during major outages.
Leading a member-owned cooperative and the responsibility of serving local communities.
The future of Louisiana’s electric infrastructure and the challenges that lie ahead.

As Season 6 continues, FUELED brings together leaders from across Louisiana’s electric industry to provide insight into the organizations, infrastructure, and people working every day to keep the state powered.