Lafayette Utilities System
For over 100 years, LUS has provided essential services to the community. In 1896, the citizens of Lafayette had the foresight to establish an entity to supply electricity and water to the community. This organization has developed into what is today the publicly owned Lafayette Utilities System serving over 55,000 electric accounts, 44,000 water accounts, 35,000 wastewater accounts and offering wholesale telecommunications services within the City of Lafayette and portions of Lafayette Parish.

LUS Powered Network
In January 2002, LUS activated the LUS Powered Network for wholesale telecommunication customers. Wholesale products and services include broadband, dedicated packet service, shared packet service, direct Internet access, customer premise equipment, tower lease packages, and last mile service.

The need for an enhanced communication system was introduced by LUS in 1998. At that time, LUS proposed expanding its infrastructure beyond traditional utilities by constructing a 65-mile, 96-strand SONET-based telecommunications system, the LUS Powered Network, with direct connections to Tier 1 providers. The network reaches within one mile of most businesses and residences in the City of Lafayette including major areas of development and primary traffic routes. LUS constructed the Powered Network to replace an aging microwave communications system which provided critical information between LUS electric substations and the main control center. LUS retained 12 fibers from the network for its communications needs in order to maintain a highly reliable system. The Powered Network began transmitting working traffic in December 2000 including data from the LUS electric transmission and distribution system.

The remaining fiber was made available to facilitate broadband and high-speed Internet access to wholesale customers including CLECs, ISPs, and CAPs. The LUS Powered Network offers bandwidth solutions ranging from T1 to OC192, 1Mbps to 10 Gbps Ethernet, and 100 Mbps Internet services.The network is monitored and maintained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. LUS is a registered Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) with the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

1-16-02 LUS Powered Network press conference (Terry Huval, LUS Director; US Senator John Breaux; US Representative Chris John)