Document:

Exhibit 10.2

     

    

    STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY SALE AGREEMENT

     

    between

     

    CLECO SECURITIZATION I LLC

     

    Issuer

     

    and

     

    CLECO POWER, LLC

     

    Seller

     

    Dated as of June 22, 2022

     

    
      
        

    

    
    TABLE OF CONTENTS

     

    	
            ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

          	
            1

          
	 	
            Section 1.01

          	
            Definitions

          	
            1

          
	 	
            Section 1.02

          	
            Other Definitional Provisions

          	
            1

          
	
            ARTICLE II CONVEYANCE OF THE STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY

          	
            2

          
	 	
            Section 2.01

          	
            Conveyance of the Storm Recovery Property

          	
            2

          
	 	
            Section 2.02

          	
            Conditions to Conveyance of the Storm Recovery Property

          	
            2

          
	
            ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

          	
            3

          
	 	
            Section 3.01

          	
            Organization and Good Standing

          	
            4

          
	 	
            Section 3.02

          	
            Due Qualification

          	
            4

          
	 	
            Section 3.03

          	
            Power and Authority

          	
            4

          
	 	
            Section 3.04

          	
            Binding Obligation

          	
            4

          
	 	
            Section 3.05

          	
            No Violation

          	
            4

          
	 	
            Section 3.06

          	
            No Proceedings

          	
            4

          
	 	
            Section 3.07

          	
            Approvals

          	
            5

          
	 	
            Section 3.08

          	
            The Storm Recovery Property

          	
            5

          
	 	
            Section 3.09

          	
            Solvency

          	
            6

          
	 	
            Section 3.10

          	
            The Financing Order

          	
            7

          
	 	
            Section 3.11

          	
            State Action

          	
            7

          
	 	
            Section 3.12

          	
            No Court Order

          	
            8

          
	 	
            Section 3.13

          	
            Approvals Concerning the Storm Recovery Property

          	
            8

          
	 	
            Section 3.14

          	
            No Right of Louisiana Voters to Act by Initiative or Referendum

          	
            8

          
	 	
            Section 3.15

          	
            Tax Liens

          	
            8

          
	 	
            Section 3.16

          	
            Assumptions

          	
            9

          
	 	
            Section 3.17

          	
            Creation of the Storm Recovery Property

          	
            9

          
	 	
            Section 3.18

          	
            Prospectus

          	
            10

          
	 	
            Section 3.19

          	
            Nature of Representations and Warranties

          	
            10

          
	 	
            Section 3.20

          	
            Waivers of Legal Warranties

          	
            10

          
	
            ARTICLE IV COVENANTS OF THE SELLER

          	
            10

          
	 	
            Section 4.01

          	
            Seller’s Existence

          	
            10

          
	 	
            Section 4.02

          	
            No Liens or Conveyances

          	
            11

          
	 	
            Section 4.03

          	
            Use of Proceeds

          	
            11

          
	 	
            Section 4.04

          	
            Delivery of Collections

          	
            11

          

     

    

    
      i

      
        

    

    	 	
            Section 4.05

          	
            Notice of Liens

          	
            11

          
	 	
            Section 4.06

          	
            Compliance with Law

          	
            11

          
	 	
            Section 4.07

          	
            Covenants Related to the Storm Recovery Property

          	
            12

          
	 	
            Section 4.08

          	
            Protection of Title

          	
            13

          
	 	
            Section 4.09

          	
            Taxes

          	
            14

          
	 	
            Section 4.10

          	
            Filings Pursuant to Financing Order

          	
            14

          
	 	
            Section 4.11

          	
            Issuance Advice Letter

          	
            14

          
	 	
            Section 4.12

          	
            Rate Schedules

          	
            14

          
	 	
            Section 4.13

          	
            Notice of Breach to Rating Agencies, Etc.

          	
            14

          
	 	
            Section 4.14

          	
            Further Assurances

          	
            14

          
	
            ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL UNDERTAKINGS OF SELLER

          	
            14

          
	 	
            Section 5.01

          	
            LIABILITY OF THE SELLER; INDEMNITIES

          	
            14

          
	 	
            Section 5.02

          	
            Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Seller

          	
            17

          
	 	
            Section 5.03

          	
            Limitation on Liability of the Seller and Others

          	
            19

          
	
            ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

          	
            19

          
	 	
            Section 6.01

          	
            Amendment

          	
            19

          
	 	
            Section 6.02

          	
            Notices

          	
            20

          
	 	
            Section 6.03

          	
            Assignment by the Seller

          	
            21

          
	 	
            Section 6.04

          	
            Pledge to the Trustee

          	
            21

          
	 	
            Section 6.05

          	
            Limitations on Rights of Others

          	
            21

          
	 	
            Section 6.06

          	
            Severability

          	
            21

          
	 	
            Section 6.07

          	
            Separate Counterparts

          	
            21

          
	 	
            Section 6.08

          	
            Headings

          	
            21

          
	 	
            Section 6.09

          	
            Governing Law

          	
            21

          
	 	
            Section 6.10

          	
            Limitation of Liability

          	
            21

          
	 	
            Section 6.11

          	
            Waivers

          	
            22

          
	 	
            Section 6.12

          	
            Nonpetition Covenants

          	
            22

          
	
            APPENDIX A—DEFINITIONS

          	
            1

          
	
            EXHIBIT A  BILL OF SALE

          	
            1

          
	
            SCHEDULE 1 to BILL OF SALE

          	
            1

          

    

    

    
      ii

      
        

    

    
    STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY SALE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of June 22, 2022, between CLECO SECURITIZATION I LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company (the “Issuer”), and CLECO POWER, LLC, a
      Louisiana limited liability company, as seller (the “Seller”).

     

    WHEREAS, the Issuer desires to purchase the Storm Recovery Property created pursuant to the Securitization Act and the Financing Order;

     

    WHEREAS, the Seller is willing to sell its rights and interests in and to the Storm Recovery Property to the Issuer;

     

    WHEREAS, the Issuer, in order to finance the purchase of the Storm Recovery Property, will issue the Storm Recovery Bonds under the Indenture; and

     

    WHEREAS, the Issuer, to secure its obligations under the Storm Recovery Bonds and the Indenture, will pledge its right, title and interest in the Storm Recovery Property and this Agreement to the
      Trustee for the benefit of the Storm Recovery Bondholders.

     

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     

    ARTICLE I

     

    DEFINITIONS

     

    Section 1.01          Definitions.  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
      assigned to them in Appendix A to this Agreement.  Not all terms defined in Appendix A to this Agreement are used in this Agreement.

     

    Section 1.02          Other Definitional Provisions.

     

    (a)          “Agreement” means this Storm Recovery Property Sale Agreement, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to
      time.

     

    (b)        Non-capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Securitization Act, as the context requires, have the meanings
      assigned to such terms in the Securitization Act, but without giving effect to amendments to the Securitization Act after the date hereof which have a material adverse effect on the Issuer or the Storm Recovery Bondholders.

     

    (c)        All terms defined in this Agreement shall have such defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or
      delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.

     

    (d)         The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this
      Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; Section, Schedule and Exhibit references contained in this Agreement are references to Sections, Schedules and Exhibits in or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified;
      and the term “including” shall mean “including without limitation.”

     

    
      1

      
        

    

    (e)          The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

     

    ARTICLE II

     

    CONVEYANCE OF THE STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY

     

    Section 2.01          Conveyance of the Storm Recovery Property.

     

    (a)          In consideration of the Issuer’s payment to or upon the order of the Seller of $419,500,000.00 (the “Purchase Price”),
      subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions specified in Section 2.02, the Seller does hereby irrevocably sell, transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey to the Issuer, without recourse (subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to the
      express obligations of the Seller herein) or warranty, except as set forth herein, all right, title and interest of the Seller in and to the Storm Recovery Property as identified in the Bill of Sale delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(i) on or prior
      to the Closing Date (such sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance of the Storm Recovery Property to include, to the fullest extent permitted by the Securitization Act, the right to impose, collect and receive the Storm Recovery
      Charges, as the same may be adjusted from time to time).  Such sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance of the Storm Recovery Property is hereby expressly stated to be a sale or other absolute transfer and, pursuant to Section 1230(1)
      of the Securitization Act and other applicable law, is a true sale and is not a secured transaction and title and ownership has passed to the Issuer.  The preceding sentence is the statement referred to in Section 1230 of the Securitization Act.  The
      Seller agrees and confirms that upon payment of the Purchase Price and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Bill of Sale, the sale, transfer and assignment hereunder shall be effective and the Seller shall have no right, title or
      interest in, to or under the Storm Recovery Property.

     

    (b)        Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of conditions specified in Section 2.02, the Issuer does hereby purchase the Storm
      Recovery Property from the Seller for the consideration set forth in Section 2.01(a).

     

    (c)         The Seller and the Issuer each acknowledge and agree that the purchase price for the Storm Recovery Property sold pursuant
      to this Agreement is equal to its fair market value at the time of sale.

     

    Section 2.02        Conditions to Conveyance of the Storm Recovery Property.  The obligation of the Seller to sell,
      and the obligation of the Issuer to purchase the Storm Recovery Property on the Closing Date shall be subject to and conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions:

     

    (i)          on or prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall deliver to the Issuer a duly executed Bill of Sale identifying the Storm Recovery Property,
      substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto;

     

    
      2

      
        

    

    (ii)          as of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Seller in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
      and no material breach by the Seller of its covenants in this Agreement shall exist and the Seller shall have delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to such effect and no Servicer Default shall have occurred and be
      continuing;

     

    (iii)          as of the Closing Date:

     

    (A)          the Issuer shall have sufficient funds available to pay the Purchase Price,

     

    (B)          all conditions set forth in the Indenture to the issuance of the Storm Recovery Bonds shall have been satisfied or
      waived, and

     

    (C)         the Seller is not insolvent and will not have been made insolvent by the sale of the Storm Recovery Property and the
      Seller is not aware of any pending insolvency with respect to itself.

     

    (iv)          on or prior to the Closing Date, the Seller shall have taken all actions required under the Securitization Act, the Financing Order and other
      applicable law for the Issuer to have ownership of the Storm Recovery Property, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens created by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture; and the Issuer, or the Servicer on behalf of the Issuer, shall have taken
      any action required for the Issuer to grant the Trustee a first priority perfected security interest in the Trust Estate and maintain such security interest as of such date (including all actions required under the Securitization Act, the Financing
      Order and the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted in the State of Louisiana and each other applicable jurisdiction (the “UCC”));

     

    (v)           the Seller shall have delivered to each Rating Agency and to the Issuer any Opinions of Counsel requested by the Rating Agencies;

     

    (vi)         the Seller shall have delivered to the Trustee and the Issuer an Officer’s Certificate confirming the satisfaction of each relevant condition
      precedent specified in this Section 2.02; and

     

    (vii)          the Seller shall have received the Purchase Price in funds immediately available on the Closing Date.

     

    ARTICLE III

     

    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

     

    As of the Closing Date, the Seller makes the following representations and warranties on which the Issuer has relied and will rely in acquiring the Storm Recovery Property.  The following
      representations and warranties are made under existing law as in effect as of the Closing Date.  The Seller shall not be in breach of any representation or warranty herein as a result of a change in law occurring after the Closing Date, including by
      means of legislative enactment, constitutional amendment or voter initiative.  The representations and warranties shall survive the sale of the Storm Recovery Property to the Issuer and the pledge thereof on the Closing Date to the Trustee pursuant
      to the Indenture.

     

    
      3

      
        

    

    Section 3.01          Organization and Good Standing.  The Seller is a limited liability company duly organized and
      in good standing under the laws of the State of Louisiana, with limited liability company power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as currently owned or conducted.

     

    Section 3.02          Due Qualification.  The Seller is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability
      company in good standing, and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals, in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualifications, licenses or approvals (except where the
      failure to so qualify or obtain such licenses and approvals would not be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Seller’s business, operations, assets, revenues or properties).

     

    Section 3.03         Power and Authority.  The Seller has the limited liability company power and authority to
      obtain the Financing Order and to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out its terms; the Seller has the limited liability company power and authority to own the rights and interests under the Financing Order, and to sell and assign the
      rights and interests under the Financing Order and in the Storm Recovery Property to the Issuer; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Seller by all necessary limited liability company action.

     

    Section 3.04         Binding Obligation.  This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
      Seller, enforceable against the Seller in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ or secured parties’ rights
      generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

     

    Section 3.05          No Violation.  The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
      fulfillment of the terms hereof do not: (i) conflict with or result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) a default under, the articles of organization or limited liability
      company operating agreement of the Seller, or any indenture, mortgage, credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Seller is a party or by which it or its properties is bound; (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien
      upon any of the Seller’s properties pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, agreement or other instrument (except for any Lien created by the Issuer under the Basic Documents in favor of the Storm Recovery Bondholders and in accordance with
      Section 1231 of the Securitization Act); or (iii) violate any existing law or any existing order, rule or regulation applicable to the Seller of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Seller or its properties.

     

    Section 3.06        No Proceedings.  Except as disclosed in the Issuer’s prospectus dated June 9, 2022 relating to
      the Storm Recovery Bonds (the “Prospectus”), there are no proceedings pending and, to the Seller’s knowledge, (x) there are no proceedings threatened and (y) there are no investigations pending or threatened before any Governmental Authority having
      jurisdiction over the Seller or its properties involving or relating to the Seller or the Issuer or, to the Seller’s knowledge, any other Person:

     

    
      4

      
        

    

    (i)            asserting the invalidity of this Agreement, any of the other Basic Documents, the Storm Recovery Bonds, the Securitization Act or the
      Financing Order;

     

    (ii)          seeking to prevent the issuance of the Storm Recovery Bonds or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
      any of the other Basic Documents;

     

    (iii)         seeking any determination or ruling that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the performance by the Seller of its
      obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement, any of the other Basic Documents or the Storm Recovery Bonds; or

     

    (iv)         challenging the Seller’s treatment of the Storm Recovery Bonds as debt of the Seller for federal or state income, gross receipts or franchise
      tax purposes.

     

    Section 3.07         Approvals.  Except for continuation filings under the UCC and the Securitization Act, no
      approval, authorization, consent, order or other action of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required under an applicable law, rule or regulation in connection with the execution and delivery by the Seller of this Agreement, the
      performance by the Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby or the fulfillment by the Seller of the terms hereof, except those that have been obtained or made and those that the Seller, in its capacity as Servicer under the Servicing Agreement,
      is required to make in the future pursuant to the Servicing Agreement.

     

    Section 3.08          The Storm Recovery Property.

     

    (a)       Information.  Subject to Section 3.16, all written information, as amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the
      date this representation is made, provided by the Seller to the Issuer with respect to the Storm Recovery Property (including the Financing Order and the Issuance Advice Letter) is correct in all material respects and does not omit any material facts
      required to be included therein and all historical data for the purpose of calculating the initial Storm Recovery Charges in the Issuance Advice Letter and the assumptions used for such calculations are reasonable and such calculations were made in
      good faith.

     

    (b)        Effect of Transfer.  It is the intention of the parties hereto that (other than for United States federal income tax
      purposes and, to the extent consistent with applicable state tax laws, state income and franchise tax purposes) the sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance herein contemplated constitutes a sale or other absolute transfer of all
      right, title and interest of the Seller in and to the Storm Recovery Property from the Seller to the Issuer.  Upon execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Bill of Sale and payment of the Purchase Price, the Seller will have no right, title
      or interest in, to or under the Storm Recovery Property; and that such Storm Recovery Property would not be a part of the estate of the Seller as debtor in the event of the filing of a bankruptcy petition by or against the Seller under any bankruptcy
      law.  No portion of the Storm Recovery Property has been sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise conveyed by the Seller to any person other than the Issuer, and, to the Seller’s knowledge, no security arrangement, financing statement or
      equivalent security or lien instrument listing the Seller, as debtor, and all or a portion of the Storm Recovery Property, as collateral, is on file or of record in Louisiana, except such as may have been filed or recorded in favor of the Issuer or
      the Trustee in connection with the Basic Documents.

     

    
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    (c)          Transfer Filings.

     

    (i)         The Seller is the sole owner of all the rights and interests under the Financing Order to be sold to the Issuer on the Closing Date.

     

    (ii)      On the Closing Date, immediately upon the sale hereunder, the Storm Recovery Property will have been validly sold, assigned, transferred, set over
      and conveyed to the Issuer free and clear of all Liens (except for any Lien created by the Issuer under the Basic Documents in favor of the Storm Recovery Bondholders and in accordance with Section 1231 of the Securitization Act).

     

    (iii)     All actions or filings (including filings with the Louisiana UCC Filing Officer in accordance with the rules prescribed under the Securitization
      Act and the UCC) necessary in any jurisdiction to give the Issuer a perfected ownership interest (subject to any Lien created by the Issuer under the Basic Documents in favor of the Storm Recovery Bondholders and in accordance with Section 1231 of
      the Securitization Act) in the Storm Recovery Property and to grant to the Trustee a first priority perfected security interest in the Storm Recovery Property, free and clear of all Liens of the Seller or anyone else (except for any Lien created by
      the Issuer under the Basic Documents in favor of the Storm Recovery Bondholders and in accordance with Section 1231 of the Securitization Act), have been taken or made.

     

    Section 3.09          Solvency.  After giving effect to the sale of the Storm Recovery Property hereunder, the
      Seller:

     

    (i)         is solvent and expects to remain solvent,

     

    (ii)        is adequately capitalized to conduct its business and affairs considering its size and the nature of its business and intended
      purposes,

     

    (iii)      is not engaged and does not expect to engage in a business for which its remaining property represents an unreasonably small
      portion of its capital,

     

    (iv)       reasonably believes that it will be able to pay its debts as they come due, and

     

    (v)        is able to pay its debts as they come due and does not intend to incur, or believes that it will incur, indebtedness that it
      will not be able to repay at its maturity.

     

    
      6

      
        

    

    Section 3.10          The Financing Order.

     

    (a)        The Financing Order was issued by the Louisiana Commission on April 1, 2022 in accordance with the Securitization Act; the
      Financing Order and the process by which it was issued comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the State of Louisiana and the federal laws of the United States, and the Financing Order is final, non-appealable and in full force and
      effect.

     

    (b)       As of the date of issuance of the Storm Recovery Bonds, the Storm Recovery Bonds will be entitled to the protections
      provided by the Securitization Act and the Financing Order, the Issuance Advice Letter and the Storm Recovery Charges authorized therein will have become irrevocable and not subject to reduction, impairment or adjustment by further action of the
      Louisiana Commission, except as permitted by Section 1228(c)(4) of the Securitization Act, and the Issuance Advice Letter has been filed in accordance with the Financing Order.  The Issuance Advice Letter and the Rate Schedules have been filed in
      accordance with the Financing Order and an officer of the Seller has provided the certification to the Louisiana Commission required by the Issuance Advice Letter.  The initial Storm Recovery Charges and the final terms of the Storm Recovery Bonds
      set forth in the Issuance Advice Letter have become effective.  No other approval, authorization, consent, order or other action of, or filing with any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the creation of the Storm Recovery Property
      transferred on such date, except those that have been obtained or made.

     

    Section 3.11          State Action.

     

    (a)         Under the Securitization Act, the State of Louisiana has pledged that it will not take or permit any action that would
      impair the value of the Storm Recovery Property or, except as permitted in Section 1228(c)(4) of the Securitization Act, reduce, alter or impair the Storm Recovery Charges until the principal, interest and premium, if any, and any other charges
      incurred and contracts to be performed in connection with the Storm Recovery Bonds, have been paid and performed in full.

     

    (b)          Under the laws of the State of Louisiana and the federal laws of the United States, a reviewing court of competent
      jurisdiction would hold that (x) the State of Louisiana could not constitutionally take any action of a legislative character, including the repeal or amendment of the Securitization Act, which would substantially limit, alter or impair the Storm
      Recovery Property or other rights vested in the Storm Recovery Bondholders pursuant to the Financing Order, or substantially limit, alter, impair or reduce the value or amount of the Storm Recovery Property, unless such action is a reasonable and
      necessary exercise of the State of Louisiana’s sovereign powers based on reasonable conditions and of a character reasonable and appropriate to the emergency or other significant and legitimate public purpose justifying such action, and, (y) under
      the takings clauses of the State of Louisiana and United States Constitutions, if the court concludes that the Storm Recovery Property is protected by the takings clauses, the State of Louisiana could not repeal or amend the Securitization Act or
      take any other action in contravention of its pledge referred to in subsection (a) above without paying just compensation to the Storm Recovery Bondholders, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, if doing so would constitute a permanent
      appropriation of a substantial property interest of the Storm Recovery Bondholders in the Storm Recovery Property and deprive the Storm Recovery Bondholders of their reasonable expectations arising from their investments in the Storm Recovery Bonds;
      however, there is no assurance that, even if a court were to award just compensation, it would be sufficient to pay the full amount of principal of and interest on the Storm Recovery Bonds.

     

    
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     (c)      Under the laws of the State of Louisiana and the United States Constitution, a Louisiana state court reviewing an appeal of
      Louisiana Commission action of a legislative character would conclude that the Louisiana Commission Pledge (i) creates a binding contractual obligation of the State of Louisiana for purposes of the contract clauses of the United States and Louisiana
      Constitutions, and (ii) provides a basis upon which the Storm Recovery Bondholders could challenge successfully any action of the Louisiana Commission of a legislative character, including the rescission or amendment of the Financing Order, that such
      court determines violates the Louisiana Commission Pledge in a manner that substantially reduces, limits or impairs the value of the Storm Recovery Property or the Storm Recovery Charges, prior to the time that the Storm Recovery Bonds are paid in
      full and discharged, unless there is a judicial finding that the Louisiana Commission action clearly is exercised for a public end and is reasonably necessary to the accomplishment of that public end so as not to be arbitrary, capricious or an abuse
      of authority.  There is no assurance, however, that, even if a court were to award just compensation it would be sufficient to pay the full amount of principal and interest on the Storm Recovery Bonds.

     

    Section 3.12       No Court Order.  There is no order by any court providing for the revocation, alteration,
      limitation or other impairment of the Securitization Act, the Financing Order, the Issuance Advice Letter, the Storm Recovery Property or the Storm Recovery Charges or any rights arising under any of them or that seeks to enjoin the performance of
      any obligations under the Financing Order.

     

    Section 3.13          Approvals Concerning the Storm Recovery Property.  Under the laws of the State of Louisiana
      and the federal laws of the United States, no other approval, authorization, consent, order or other action of, or filing with any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the creation or transfer of the Seller’s rights and interests
      under the Financing Order and the Issuer’s purchase of the Storm Recovery Property from the Seller, except those that have been obtained or made.

     

    Section 3.14          No Right of Louisiana Voters to Act by Initiative or Referendum.  Apart from amending the
      Constitution of the State of Louisiana, the citizens of the State of Louisiana currently do not have the constitutional right to adopt or revise state laws by initiative or referendum.

     

    Section 3.15         Tax Liens.  The Seller is not aware of any judgment or tax Lien filings against the Issuer or
      the Seller that would result in a Lien on the Storm Recovery Property.

     

    
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    Section 3.16         Assumptions.  Based on information available to the Seller on the date hereof, the assumptions
      used in calculating the Storm Recovery Charges in the Issuance Advice Letter are reasonable and made in good faith; however, notwithstanding the foregoing, THE SELLER MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR
        IMPLIED, THAT BILLED STORM RECOVERY CHARGES WILL BE ACTUALLY COLLECTED FROM CUSTOMERS, OR THAT AMOUNTS ACTUALLY COLLECTED ARISING FROM THE STORM RECOVERY CHARGES WILL IN FACT BE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS ON THE STORM RECOVERY BONDS
        OR THAT THE ASSUMPTIONS USED IN CALCULATING SUCH STORM RECOVERY CHARGES WILL IN FACT BE REALIZED.

     

    Section 3.17          Creation of the Storm Recovery Property.

     

    (a)         Upon the effectiveness of the Financing Order, the transfer of the Seller’s rights and interests under the Financing Order
      related to the Storm Recovery Bonds and the Issuer’s purchase of the Storm Recovery Property from the Seller pursuant to this Agreement, the Storm Recovery Property will constitute a present contract right vested in the Issuer.

     

    (b)       Upon the effectiveness of the Financing Order, the Issuance Advice Letter and the Rate Schedules, the transfer of the
      Seller’s rights and interests under the Financing Order and the Issuer’s purchase of the Storm Recovery Property from the Seller pursuant to this Agreement, the Storm Recovery Property includes:

     

    	 	i	
            the right to impose, bill, charge, collect and receive the Storm Recovery Charges, including the right to receive Storm Recovery Charges in amounts and at all times projected to be sufficient to pay scheduled principal and interest on the
              Storm Recovery Bonds,

          

     

    	

          	ii	
            all rights and interest of the Seller under the Financing Order, except the rights of Seller to earn and receive a rate of return on its invested capital in the Issuer, to receive administration and servicer fees, to withdraw funds from
              its restricted storm recovery reserves funded by the proceeds from the sale of the Storm Recovery Property (including to recover prudently incurred storm recovery costs for additional Hurricane Laura related work by netting against the
              restricted regular storm recovery reserve), or to use the Seller’s remaining portion of those proceeds,

          

     

    	 	iii	
            the rights to file for periodic adjustments of the Storm Recovery Charges as provided in the Financing Order, and

          

     

    	 	iv	
            all revenues, collections, claims, rights to payments, payments, money, or proceeds arising from the rights and interests resulting from the Storm Recovery Charges.

          

     

    (c)        Upon the effectiveness of the Issuance Advice Letter and the Rate Schedules, the transfer of the Seller’s rights and
      interests under the Financing Order and the Issuer’s purchase of the Storm Recovery Property from the Seller on the Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement, the Storm Recovery Property will not be subject to any Lien created by a previous indenture.

     

    
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    Section 3.18          Prospectus.  As of the date hereof, the information describing the Seller under the captions
      “Review of Storm Recovery Property” and “The Depositor, Seller, Initial Servicer and Sponsor” in the Prospectus is true and correct in all material respects.

     

    Section 3.19        Nature of Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties set forth in
      Section 3.08 and Section 3.10 through Section 3.18, insofar as they involve conclusions of law, are made not on the basis that the Seller purports to be a legal expert or to be rendering legal advice, but rather to reflect the parties’ good faith
      understanding of the legal basis on which the parties are entering into this Agreement and the other Basic Documents and the basis on which the Storm Recovery Bondholders are purchasing the Storm Recovery Bonds, and to reflect the parties’ agreement
      that, if such understanding turns out to be incorrect or inaccurate, the Seller will be obligated to indemnify the Issuer and its permitted assigns (to the extent required by and in accordance with Section 5.01), and that the Issuer and its permitted
      assigns will be entitled to enforce any rights and remedies under the Basic Documents on account of such inaccuracy to the same extent as if the Seller had breached any other representations or warranties hereunder.

     

    Section 3.20          Waivers of Legal Warranties.  The Seller makes no representation or warranty, express or
      implied, as to the solvency of any Customer on the Closing Date or as to the future solvency of any Customer.  Further, the Issuer waives any right to rescind this Agreement or any conveyance pursuant to this Agreement in case of insolvency of any
      Customer, regardless of any actual or implied knowledge by Seller at any time of the insolvency of any Customer.  Additionally, the Issuer agrees that this Agreement is not subject to a suspensive condition under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2450,
      notwithstanding that the imposition and collection of Storm Recovery Charges depends upon future acts such as the Servicer performing its servicing functions relating to the collection of Storm Recovery Charges, the future provision of electric
      service to Customers, and the future consumption by Customers of electricity.

     

    ARTICLE IV

     

    COVENANTS OF THE SELLER

     

    Section 4.01          Seller’s Existence.  Subject to Section 5.02, so long as any of the Storm Recovery Bonds are
      outstanding, the Seller (i) shall keep in full force and effect its existence and remain in good standing under the laws of the state of its organization, and shall obtain and preserve its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which
      such qualification is or will be necessary to protect the validity and enforceability of this Agreement and each other instrument or agreement to which the Seller is a party necessary to the proper administration of this Agreement and the
      transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) hereby agrees to continue to operate its system to provide transmission and distribution delivery service to its customers; and, to the extent that any interest in Storm Recovery Property created by this
      Financing Order is assigned, sold or transferred to another assignee, the Seller shall enter into an agreement with that assignee that requires the Seller to continue to operate its transmission and distribution delivery system to provide service to
      the Seller’s Louisiana Commission-jurisdictional customers; and further (in each case) the Seller will undertake to collect, account and remit amounts in respect of the Storm Recovery Charges for the benefit and account of such assignee (or its
      financing party); provided, however, that this provision shall not prohibit the Seller from selling, assigning, or otherwise divesting its transmission system or distribution system (or any portions thereof) providing service to the Seller’s
      Louisiana Commission-jurisdictional customers, by any method whatsoever, including those specified in the Financing Order pursuant to which an entity becomes a successor, so long as the entities acquiring either such system or portion thereof agree
      to continue operating such facilities to provide service to Louisiana Commission-jurisdictional customers.

     

    

    
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    Section 4.02          No Liens or Conveyances.  Except for the conveyances hereunder or any Lien under the Basic
      Documents pursuant to Section 1231 of the Securitization Act for the benefit of the Trustee and the Storm Recovery Bondholders, the Seller shall not sell, pledge, assign or transfer to any other Person, or grant, create, incur, assume or suffer to
      exist any Lien on, any of the Storm Recovery Property, whether now existing or hereafter created, or any interest therein.  The Seller shall not at any time assert any Lien against or with respect to the Storm Recovery Property, and shall defend the
      right, title and interest of the Issuer and the Trustee, as assignee of the Issuer, in, to and under the Storm Recovery Property against all claims of third parties claiming through or under the Seller.

     

    Section 4.03          Use of Proceeds.  The Seller will use the proceeds from the sale of the Storm Recovery
      Property to the Issuer in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Financing Order.

     

    Section 4.04         Delivery of Collections.  In the event that the Seller receives collections in respect of the
      Storm Recovery Charges or the proceeds thereof other than in its capacity as the Servicer, the Seller agrees to pay to the Servicer, on behalf of the Issuer, all payments received by it in respect thereof as soon as practicable after receipt
      thereof.  Prior to such remittance to the Servicer by the Seller, the Seller agrees that such amounts are held by it in trust for the Issuer and the Trustee.  If the Seller becomes a party to any future trade receivables purchase and sale arrangement
      or similar arrangement under which it sells all or any portion of its accounts receivables, the Seller and the other parties to such arrangement shall enter into an intercreditor agreement in connection therewith and the terms of the documentation
      evidencing such trade receivables purchase and sale arrangement or similar arrangement shall expressly exclude Storm Recovery Charges from any receivables or other assets pledged or sold under such arrangement.

     

    Section 4.05          Notice of Liens.  The Seller shall notify the Issuer and the Trustee promptly after becoming
      aware of any Lien on the Storm Recovery Property, other than the conveyance hereunder, any Lien created in favor of the Storm Recovery Bondholders or any Lien created by the Issuer under the Indenture.

     

    Section 4.06          Compliance with Law.  The Seller shall comply with its organizational or governing documents
      and all laws, treaties, rules, regulations and determinations of any Governmental Authority applicable to the Seller, except to the extent that failure to so comply would not materially adversely affect the Issuer’s or the Trustee’s interests in the
      Storm Recovery Property or under any of the Basic Documents or the Seller’s performance of its obligations hereunder or under any of the other Basic Documents.

     

    
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    Section 4.07          Covenants Related to the Storm Recovery Property.

     

    (a)          So long as any of the Storm Recovery Bonds are outstanding, the Seller shall:

     

    (i)         treat the Storm Recovery Bonds as debt of the Issuer and not of the Seller, except for financial reporting or tax purposes;

     

    (ii)        disclose in its financial statements that the Issuer is, and the Seller is not, the owner of the Storm Recovery Property and that the assets of
      the Issuer are not available to pay creditors of the Seller or any of its Affiliates (other than the Issuer),

     

    (iii)     unless, and to the extent, required by applicable law or directed or required by a Governmental Authority, disclose the effects of all transactions
      between the Seller and the Issuer in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and

     

    (iv)       not own or purchase any Storm Recovery Bonds.

     

    (b)          So long as any of the Storm Recovery Bonds are outstanding,

     

    (i)         in all proceedings relating directly or indirectly to the Storm Recovery Property, the Seller shall: (A) affirmatively certify and confirm that
      it has sold all of its rights and interests in and to the Storm Recovery Property to the Issuer (other than for financial reporting or tax purposes), and (B) not make any statement or reference in respect of the Storm Recovery Property that is
      inconsistent with the ownership thereof by the Issuer (other than for financial reporting or tax purposes);

     

    (ii)      the Seller shall not take any action in respect of the Storm Recovery Property except solely in its capacity as the Servicer thereof pursuant to
      the Servicing Agreement or as contemplated by the Basic Documents; and

     

    (iii)      neither the Seller nor the Issuer shall take any action, file any tax return, or make any election inconsistent with the treatment of the Issuer,
      for purposes of federal taxes and, to the extent consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, for purposes of state, local and other taxes, as a disregarded entity that is not separate from the Seller (or, if relevant, from another sole
      owner of the Issuer).

     

    (c)          The Seller agrees that upon the sale by the Seller of all of its rights and interests in and to the Storm Recovery
      Property to the Issuer pursuant to this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, including applicable Louisiana Commission regulations and the Securitization Act, the Issuer shall have all of the rights originally held by the Seller with
      respect to the transferred Storm Recovery Property, including the right (subject to the terms of the Servicing Agreement) to exercise any and all rights and remedies to collect any amounts payable by any customer in respect of the transferred Storm
      Recovery Property, notwithstanding any objection or direction to the contrary by the Seller (and the Seller agrees not to make any such objection or to take any such contrary action), and any payment to the Servicer by any Person responsible for
      remitting Storm Recovery Charges to the Servicer under the terms of the Financing Order or the Securitization Act or the Rate Schedules shall discharge such Person’s obligations in respect of the Storm Recovery Property to the extent of such payment,
      notwithstanding any objection or direction to the contrary by the Seller.

     

    
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    Section 4.08          Protection of Title.  The Seller shall execute and file such filings, and cause to be executed
      and filed such filings, in such manner and in such places as may be required by law fully to preserve, maintain and protect the interests of the Issuer and the Trustee in the Storm Recovery Property, including all filings required under the
      Securitization Act and the UCC relating to the transfer of the ownership of the rights and interests under the Financing Order by the Seller to the Issuer and the pledge of the Storm Recovery Property by the Issuer to the Trustee.  The Seller shall
      deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Issuer and the Trustee file-stamped copies of, or filing receipts for, any document filed as provided above, as soon as available following such filing.  The Seller shall institute any action or proceeding
      reasonably necessary to compel performance by the Louisiana Commission or the State of Louisiana of any of their obligations or duties under the Securitization Act, the Financing Order or the Issuance Advice Letter relating to the transfer of the
      rights and interests under the Financing Order by the Seller to the Issuer and shall notify the Trustee of the institution of any such action.  The Seller agrees to take such legal or administrative actions, including defending against or instituting
      and pursuing legal actions and appearing or testifying at hearings or similar proceedings, in each case as may be reasonably necessary:

     

    (a)         to protect the Issuer and the Storm Recovery Bondholders from claims, state actions or other actions or proceedings of
      third parties which, if successfully pursued, would result in a breach of any representation set forth in Article III; or

     

    (b)       so long as the Seller is also the Servicer, to block or overturn any attempts to cause a repeal of, modification of or
      supplement to the Securitization Act, the Financing Order, the Issuance Advice Letter or the rights of Storm Recovery Bondholders by legislative enactment (including any action of the Louisiana Commission of a legislative character) or constitutional
      amendment that would be materially adverse to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Storm Recovery Bondholders.

     

    The costs of any such actions or proceedings shall be reimbursed by the Issuer to the Seller from amounts on deposit in the Collection Account as an Operating Expense (as such terms are defined in the Indenture) in
      accordance with the terms of the Indenture.  The Seller’s obligations pursuant to this Section 4.08 shall survive and continue notwithstanding that the payment of Operating Expenses pursuant to the Indenture may be delayed (it being understood that
      the Seller may be required to advance its own funds to satisfy its obligation hereunder).  The Seller designates the Issuer as its agent and attorney-in-fact to execute any filings of financing statements, continuation statements or other instruments
      required of the Seller pursuant to this Section 4.08, it being understood that the Issuer shall have no obligation to execute any such instruments.

     

    
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    Section 4.09          Taxes.  So long as any of the Storm Recovery Bonds are outstanding, the Seller shall pay all
      material taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or with respect to any of its franchises, businesses, income or property before any penalty accrues thereon if the failure to pay any such taxes,
      assessments and governmental charges would, after any applicable grace periods, notices or other similar requirements, result in a Lien on the Storm Recovery Property; provided that no such tax need be paid if the Seller or any of its Affiliates is
      contesting the same in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and if the Seller or such Affiliate has established appropriate reserves as shall be required in conformity with generally accepted accounting
      principles.

     

    Section 4.10          Filings Pursuant to Financing Order.  The Seller shall comply with all filing requirements
      imposed upon the Seller in its capacity as such by the Financing Order, including making any such post-closing filings.

     

    Section 4.11          Issuance Advice Letter.  The Seller hereby agrees not to withdraw the filing of the Issuance
      Advice Letter with the Louisiana Commission.

     

    Section 4.12          Rate Schedules.  The Seller hereby agrees to make all reasonable efforts to keep the Rate
      Schedules in full force and effect at all times.

     

    Section 4.13          Notice of Breach to Rating Agencies, Etc.  Promptly after obtaining knowledge thereof, in the
      event of a breach in any material respect (without regard to any materiality qualifier contained in such representation, warranty or covenant) of any of the Seller’s representations, warranties or covenants contained herein, the Seller shall promptly
      notify the Issuer, the Trustee and the Rating Agencies of such breach.  For the avoidance of doubt, any breach which would adversely affect scheduled payments on the Storm Recovery Bonds will be deemed to be a material breach for purposes of this
      Section 4.13.

     

    Section 4.14          Further Assurances.  Upon the reasonable request of the Issuer, the Seller shall execute and
      deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary to carry out more effectually the provisions and purposes of this Agreement.

     

    ARTICLE V

     

    

    ADDITIONAL UNDERTAKINGS OF SELLER

     

    The Seller hereby undertakes the obligations contained in this Article V and acknowledges that the Issuer shall have the right to assign its rights with respect to such obligations to the Trustee for
      the benefit of the Storm Recovery Bondholders.

     

    Section 5.01          LIABILITY OF THE SELLER; INDEMNITIES.

     

    (a)          THE SELLER SHALL BE LIABLE IN ACCORDANCE HEREWITH ONLY TO THE EXTENT OF THE OBLIGATIONS
        SPECIFICALLY UNDERTAKEN BY THE SELLER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.

     

    
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    (b)          THE SELLER SHALL INDEMNIFY THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE, FOR ITSELF AND ON BEHALF OF THE
        STORM RECOVERY BONDHOLDERS, AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS FOR, AND DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH SUCH PERSON FROM AND AGAINST, ANY AND ALL TAXES (OTHER THAN ANY TAXES IMPOSED ON STORM RECOVERY
        BONDHOLDERS SOLELY AS A RESULT OF THEIR OWNERSHIP OF STORM RECOVERY BONDS) THAT MAY AT ANY TIME BE IMPOSED ON OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY SUCH PERSON UNDER EXISTING LAW AS OF THE CLOSING DATE AS A RESULT OF THE SALE AND ASSIGNMENT OF THE SELLER’S
        RIGHTS AND INTERESTS UNDER THE FINANCING ORDER BY THE SELLER TO THE ISSUER, THE ACQUISITION OR HOLDING OF THE STORM RECOVERY PROPERTY BY THE ISSUER OR THE ISSUANCE AND SALE BY THE ISSUER OF THE STORM RECOVERY BONDS, INCLUDING ANY SALES, GROSS
        RECEIPTS, TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY, PRIVILEGE, FRANCHISE OR LICENSE TAXES, BUT EXCLUDING ANY TAXES IMPOSED AS A RESULT OF A FAILURE OF SUCH PERSON TO PROPERLY WITHHOLD OR REMIT TAXES IMPOSED WITH RESPECT TO PAYMENTS ON ANY STORM RECOVERY BOND, IN
        THE EVENT AND TO THE EXTENT SUCH TAXES ARE NOT RECOVERABLE AS FINANCING COSTS, IT BEING UNDERSTOOD THAT THE STORM RECOVERY BONDHOLDERS SHALL BE ENTITLED TO ENFORCE THEIR RIGHTS AGAINST THE SELLER UNDER THIS SECTION 5.01(b) SOLELY THROUGH A CAUSE OF
        ACTION BROUGHT FOR THEIR BENEFIT BY THE TRUSTEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE INDENTURE.

     

    (c)          THE SELLER SHALL INDEMNIFY THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE, FOR ITSELF AND ON BEHALF OF THE
        STORM RECOVERY BONDHOLDERS, AND EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS FOR, AND DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS EACH SUCH PERSON FROM AND AGAINST, ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, CLAIMS, ACTIONS, SUITS OR
        PAYMENTS OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY SUCH PERSON (WHICH MAY INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE STORM RECOVERY BONDS AS A MEASURE OF SELLER’S INDEMNIFICATION
        OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS SECTION 5.01) TOGETHER WITH ANY REASONABLE COSTS AND EXPENSES INCURRED BY SUCH PERSON, IN EACH CASE AS A RESULT OF THE SELLER’S BREACH OF ANY OF ITS REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR COVENANTS CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT.

     

    (d)          THE INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLER UNDER THIS SECTION 5.01 SHALL RANK PARI PASSU WITH ALL OTHER GENERAL UNSECURED OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLER.

     

    
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    (e)          INDEMNIFICATION UNDER THIS SECTION 5.01 SHALL SURVIVE THE RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF THE
        TRUSTEE AND THE TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT AND SHALL INCLUDE REASONABLE FEES AND EXPENSES OF INVESTIGATION AND LITIGATION (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND EXPENSES).  THE SELLER SHALL NOT INDEMNIFY ANY PARTY UNDER THIS SECTION 5.01 FOR
        ANY CHANGES IN LAW AFTER THE CLOSING DATE, INCLUDING BY MEANS OF LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENT, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OR VOTER INITIATIVE, OR FOR ANY LIABILITY RESULTING SOLELY FROM A DOWNGRADE IN ANY RATING OF THE STORM RECOVERY BONDS BY ANY RATING
        AGENCY.  THE SELLER SHALL NOT INDEMNIFY THE TRUSTEE OR ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS UNDER THIS SECTION 5.01 AGAINST ANY LIABILITY, OBLIGATION, CLAIM, ACTION, SUIT OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF THE WILLFUL
        MISCONDUCT, NEGLIGENCE OR BAD FAITH OF ANY SUCH PERSON.

     

    (f)         THE SELLER SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO INDEMNIFY A PARTY UNDER THIS SECTION 5.01 FOR ANY
        AMOUNT PAID OR PAYABLE BY SUCH PARTY IN THE SETTLEMENT OF ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE SELLER WHICH CONSENT SHALL NOT BE UNREASONABLY WITHHELD.

     

    (g)          PROMPTLY AFTER RECEIPT BY A PARTY OF NOTICE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF ANY ACTION,
        PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION, SUCH PARTY SHALL, IF A CLAIM IN RESPECT THEREOF IS TO BE MADE AGAINST THE SELLER UNDER THIS SECTION 5.01, NOTIFY THE SELLER IN WRITING OF THE COMMENCEMENT THEREOF.  FAILURE BY A PARTY TO SO NOTIFY THE SELLER SHALL
        RELIEVE THE SELLER FROM THE OBLIGATION TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS SUCH INDEMNIFIED PARTY UNDER THIS SECTION 5.01 ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE SELLER SUFFERS ACTUAL PREJUDICE AS A RESULT OF SUCH FAILURE.

     

    (h)       WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION BROUGHT BY A THIRD PARTY FOR WHICH
        INDEMNIFICATION MAY BE SOUGHT UNDER SECTION 5.01(C), THE SELLER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO CONDUCT AND CONTROL, AT ITS EXPENSE AND WITH COUNSEL OF ITS CHOOSING THAT IS REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO SUCH INDEMNIFIED PARTY, THE DEFENSE OF ANY SUCH ACTION,
        PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION (IN WHICH CASE THE SELLER SHALL NOT THEREAFTER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FEES AND EXPENSES OF ANY SEPARATE COUNSEL RETAINED BY THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW); PROVIDED THAT THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY SHALL HAVE
        THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION THROUGH COUNSEL CHOSEN BY IT AND AT ITS OWN EXPENSE.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE SELLER’S ELECTION TO ASSUME THE DEFENSE OF ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR INVESTIGATION, THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY
        SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO EMPLOY SEPARATE COUNSEL (INCLUDING LOCAL COUNSEL), AND THE SELLER SHALL BEAR THE REASONABLE FEES, COSTS AND EXPENSES OF SUCH SEPARATE COUNSEL IF (I) THE DEFENDANTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION INCLUDE BOTH THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY AND
        THE SELLER AND THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY SHALL HAVE REASONABLY CONCLUDED THAT THERE MAY BE LEGAL DEFENSES AVAILABLE TO IT THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM OR ADDITIONAL TO THOSE AVAILABLE TO THE SELLER, (II) THE SELLER SHALL NOT HAVE EMPLOYED COUNSEL REASONABLY
        SATISFACTORY TO THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY TO REPRESENT THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER NOTICE OF THE INSTITUTION OF SUCH ACTION, (III) THE SELLER SHALL AUTHORIZE THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY TO EMPLOY SEPARATE COUNSEL AT THE EXPENSE OF
        THE SELLER OR (IV) IN THE CASE OF THE TRUSTEE, SUCH ACTION EXPOSES THE TRUSTEE TO A MATERIAL RISK OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY OR FORFEITURE OR A SERVICER DEFAULT HAS OCCURRED AND IS CONTINUING.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SELLER SHALL NOT BE
        OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR THE FEES, COSTS AND EXPENSES OF MORE THAN ONE SEPARATE COUNSEL FOR THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES OTHER THAN ONE LOCAL COUNSEL, IF APPROPRIATE.

     

    
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    NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY SUCH FOREGOING INDEMNITY EXTEND TO THE COLLECTIBILITY OF THE STORM RECOVERY CHARGES FROM ANY PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR REMITTING STORM RECOVERY
      CHARGES TO THE SERVICER UNDER THE TERMS OF THE FINANCING ORDER, THE SECURITIZATION ACT OR AN APPLICABLE RATE SCHEDULE, OR THE CREDITWORTHINESS OF ANY SUCH PERSON OR THE INABILITY OR FAILURE OF SUCH PERSON TO TIMELY PAY ALL OR A PORTION OF THE STORM
      RECOVERY CHARGES.  THE REMEDIES PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES AGAINST THE SELLER FOR BREACH OF ITS REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR COVENANTS IN THIS AGREEMENT.

     

    Section 5.02          Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, the Seller.

     

    Any Person:

     

    (a)          into which the Seller may be merged, converted or consolidated and which succeeds to all or substantially all of the
      electric transmission and distribution business of the Seller (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the Louisiana Commission designates in connection with an order relating to such split),

     

    (b)          which results from the division of the Seller into two or more Persons and which succeeds to all or substantially all of
      the electric transmission and distribution business of the Seller (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the Louisiana Commission designates in connection with an order relating to such split),

     

    (c)          which may result from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Seller shall be a party and which succeeds to
      all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the Seller (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the Louisiana Commission designates in connection with an order relating to
      such split),

     

    
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    (d)          which may purchase or otherwise succeed to the properties and assets of the Seller substantially as a whole and which
      purchases or otherwise succeeds to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the Seller (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the Louisiana Commission designates in
      connection with an order relating to such split), or

     

    (e)          which may otherwise purchase or succeed to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution
      business of the Seller (or, if the transmission and distribution business is split, any Person which the Louisiana Commission designates in connection with an order relating to such split),

     

    which Person in any of the foregoing cases executes an agreement of assumption to perform every obligation of the Seller under this Agreement, shall be the successor to the Seller hereunder without the execution or
      filing of any document or any further act by any of the parties to this Agreement; provided, however, that

     

    (i)         immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no representation, warranty or covenant made pursuant to Article III or Article IV shall
      have been breached in any material respect and no Servicer Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a Servicer Default, shall have occurred and be continuing,

     

    (ii)        the Rating Agencies shall have received prior written notice of such transaction,

     

    (iii)      the Seller shall have delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such
      consolidation, conversion, merger, division or succession and such agreement of assumption comply with this Section 5.02 and that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Agreement relating to such transaction have been complied with,

     

    (iv)       the Seller shall have delivered to the Issuer and the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel either

     

    (A)       stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all filings to be made by the Seller, including filings with the Louisiana
      Commission pursuant to the Securitization Act and the UCC, that are necessary fully to preserve and protect the respective interests of the Issuer and the Trustee in the Storm Recovery Property have been executed and filed, and reciting the details
      of such filings, or

     

    (B)          stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to preserve and protect such interests, and

     

    (v)        the Seller shall have delivered to the Issuer, the Trustee and the Rating Agencies an opinion of independent tax counsel (as selected by, and in
      form and substance satisfactory to the Seller, and which may be based on a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service) to the effect that, for federal income tax purposes, such transaction will not result in a material adverse federal income tax
      consequence to the Issuer, the Trustee or the Storm Recovery Bondholders.

     

    
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    The Seller shall not consummate any transaction referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above except upon execution of the above described agreement of assumption and compliance with clauses (i), (ii), (iii),
      (iv) and (v) above.  When any Person acquires the properties and assets of the Seller substantially as a whole and succeeds to all or substantially all of the electric transmission and distribution business of the Seller (or, if the transmission and
      distribution business is split, any Person which the Louisiana Commission designates in connection with an order relating to such split), or otherwise becomes the successor to the Seller in accordance with the terms of this Section 5.02, then upon
      the satisfaction of all of the other conditions of this Section 5.02, the Seller shall automatically and without further notice be released from its obligations hereunder.

     

    Section 5.03          Limitation on Liability of the Seller and Others.  The Seller and any manager, officer,
      employee or agent of the Seller may rely in good faith on the advice of counsel or on any document of any kind, prima facie properly executed and submitted by any Person, respecting any matters arising hereunder.  Subject to Section 4.07, the Seller
      shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal action that is not incidental to its obligations under this Agreement, and that in its opinion may involve it in any expense or liability.

     

    ARTICLE VI

     

    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     

    Section 6.01          Amendment.

     

    (a)          This Agreement may be amended in writing by the Seller and the Issuer, provided that (i) the Rating Agency Condition has
      been satisfied in connection therewith, (ii) the Trustee has consented thereto and (iii) in the case of any amendment that increases ongoing financing costs as defined in the Financing Order, the Louisiana Commission has consented thereto or shall be
      conclusively deemed to have consented thereto.  Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent, the Issuer shall furnish written notification of the substance of such amendment or consent to each of the Rating Agencies.  With respect
      to the Louisiana Commission’s consent to any amendment to this Agreement,

     

    (i)         the Seller may submit the amendment to the Louisiana Commission by delivering to the Louisiana Commission’s executive counsel a written request
      for such consent, which request shall contain:

     

    (A)          a reference to Docket No. U-35807 and a statement as to the possible effect of the amendment on ongoing financing costs;

     

    (B)          an Officer’s Certificate stating that the proposed amendment has been approved by all relevant parties to this Agreement;
      and

     

    (C)         a statement identifying the person to whom the Louisiana Commission or its staff is to address its consent to the proposed
      amendment or request additional time;

     

    
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    (ii)        Any amendment requiring the consent of the Louisiana Commission as provided in this Section 6.01(a) shall become effective on the later of:

     

    (A)          the date proposed by the parties to the amendment, or

     

    (B)          31 days after such submission of the amendment to the Louisiana Commission unless the Louisiana Commission issues an
      order disapproving the amendment within a 30-day period.

     

    (b)          Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Agreement, the Issuer and the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and
      rely upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement.  The Issuer and the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment that affects their own rights,
      duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.  Following delivery of a notice to the Louisiana Commission by the Seller under Section 6.01(a) above, the Seller and Issuer may at any time withdraw from the Louisiana Commission further
      consideration of any notification of a proposed amendment.

     

    Section 6.02          Notices.  Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, all demands, notices and
      communications upon or to the Seller, the Issuer, the Trustee, the Louisiana Commission or the Rating Agencies under this Agreement shall be in writing, delivered personally, via facsimile, reputable overnight courier or by certified mail,
      return-receipt requested, and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt

     

    (a)          in the case of the Seller, to Cleco Power, LLC, 2030 Donahue Ferry Road, Pineville, Louisiana 71360-5226, Attention:
      Treasurer,

     

    (b)        in the case of the Issuer, to Cleco Securitization I LLC, 505 Cleco Drive Office Number 16, Pineville, Louisiana
      71360-5226, Attention: Manager,

     

    (c)       in the case of Moody’s, to Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., ABS/RMBS Monitoring
        Department, 25th Floor, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10007, Email: ServicerReports@moodys.com (all such notices to be delivered to Moody’s in writing by email),

     

    (d)         in the case of S&P, to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, Inc., Structured Credit
        Surveillance, 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10041, Telephone: (212) 438-8991, Email: servicer_reports@spglobal.com (all such notices to be delivered to S&P in writing by email),

     

    (e)         in the case of Fitch, to Fitch, Ratings, Inc., 300 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019, Attention: ABS
      Surveillance, Telephone: (212) 908-0500,

     

    (f)          in the case the Trustee, at the address provided for notices or communications to the Trustee in the Indenture, and

     

    (g)         in the case of the Louisiana Commission, to Galvez Building, 12th Floor, 602 North Fifth Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
      70802, Attention: Executive Secretary;

     

    or, as to each of the foregoing, at such other address as shall be designated by written notice to the other parties.

     

    
      20

      
        

    

    Section 6.03        Assignment by the Seller.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except as
      provided in Section 5.02, this Agreement may not be assigned by the Seller.

     

    Section 6.04          Pledge to the Trustee.  The Seller hereby acknowledges and consents to any pledge and grant of
      a security interest by the Issuer to the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture for the benefit of the Storm Recovery Bondholders of all right, title and interest of the Issuer in, to and under the Storm Recovery Property and the proceeds thereof and the
      pledge of any or all of the Issuer’s rights hereunder to the Trustee. Notwithstanding such pledge, in no event shall the Trustee have any liability for the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations of the Issuer
      hereunder or in any of the certificates, notices or agreements delivered pursuant hereto, as to all of which recourse shall be had solely to the assets of the Issuer.

     

    Section 6.05          Limitations on Rights of Others.  The provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit
      of the Seller, the Issuer and the Trustee, on behalf of itself and the Storm Recovery Bondholders, and nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, shall be construed to give to any other Person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
      in the Trust Estate or under or in respect of this Agreement or any covenants, conditions or provisions contained herein.

     

    Section 6.06          Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any
      jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not
      invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

     

    Section 6.07        Separate Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in separate
      counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

     

    Section 6.08          Headings.  The headings of the various Articles and Sections herein are for convenience of
      reference only and shall not define or limit any of the terms or provisions hereof.

     

    Section 6.09        Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
      LOUISIANA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.

     

    Section 6.10          Limitation of Liability.  It is expressly understood and
        agreed by the parties hereto that this Sale Agreement is executed and delivered by the Trustee, not individually or personally but solely as Trustee on behalf of the Secured Parties, in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested
        in it. The Trustee in acting hereunder is entitled to all rights, benefits, protections, immunities and indemnities accorded to it under the Indenture. 

    

    

    
      21

      
        

    

    Section 6.11          Waivers.  Any term or provision of this Sale Agreement may
        be waived, or the time for its performance may be extended, by the party or parties entitled to the benefit thereof; provided, however, that no such waiver delivered by the Issuer shall be effective unless the Trustee has given its
        prior written consent thereto. Any such waiver shall be validly and sufficiently authorized for the purposes of this Sale Agreement if, as to any party, it is authorized in writing by an authorized representative of such party, with prompt written
        notice of any such waiver to be provided to the Rating Agencies and the Louisiana Commission. The failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any provision of this Sale Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of such provision, nor
        in any way to affect the validity of this Sale Agreement or any part hereof or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver of any breach of this Sale Agreement shall be held to constitute a waiver of any
        other or subsequent breach.

     

    Section 6.12          Nonpetition Covenants.

     

    (a)          Notwithstanding any prior termination of this Agreement or the Indenture, the Seller shall not, prior to the date which
      is one year and one day after the termination of the Indenture, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Issuer to invoke the process of any Governmental Authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining an involuntary case against the Issuer
      under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Issuer or any substantial part of the property of the Issuer, or
      ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of the Issuer.

     

    (b)          Notwithstanding any prior termination of this Agreement or the Indenture, the Issuer shall not, prior to the date which
      is one year and one day after the termination of the Indenture, petition or otherwise invoke the process of any Governmental Authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining an involuntary case against the Seller under any federal or state
      bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Seller or any substantial part of the property of the Seller, or ordering the winding-up or
      liquidation of the affairs of the Seller.

     

    [Rest of page intentionally left blank]

     

    

    
      22

      
        

    

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

     

    	 	
            CLECO SECURITIZATION I LLC,

          
	 	
            as Issuer,

          
	 	 	 
	 	
            By:

          	/s/ William G. Fontenot

          
	 	 	
            Name: William G. Fontenot

            

          
	 	 	
            Title: President

            

          

    

    

    	 	
            CLECO POWER LLC,

          
	 	
            as Seller,

          
	 	 	 
	 	
            By:

          	/s/ William G. Fontenot

          
	 	 	
            Name: William G. Fontenot

            

          
	 	 	
            Title: Chief Executive Officer

            

          

    

    

    ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED:

     

    

    	
            THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

          	 
	
            as Trustee under the Indenture

          	 
	 	 	 
	
            By:

          	/s/ Linda Wirfel

          	 
	 	
            Name: Linda Wirfel

          	 
	 	
            Title: Vice President

            

          	 

    

    

    
      23

      
        

    

    
    APPENDIX A—DEFINITIONS

     

    The definitions contained in this Appendix A are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.

     

    “Administration Agreement” means the Administration Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2022, between the Issuer and the Seller, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time.

     

    “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition,
      control, when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms
      controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

     

    “Agreement” or the “Sale Agreement” means this Storm Recovery Property Sale Agreement, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time.

     

    “Basic Documents” means the Articles of Organization of the Issuer which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana on January 5, 2022, as amended by the Amended and Restated
      Articles of Organization of the Issuer which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana on June 20, 2022, the limited liability company operating agreement of the Issuer, as amended to the date hereof, the Sale Agreement, the
      Bill of Sale, the Servicing Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Indenture.

     

    “Bill of Sale” means the Bill of Sale, dated as of June 22, 2022, issued by the Seller to the Issuer pursuant to the Sale Agreement evidencing the sale of the Storm Recovery Property by the Seller to
      the Issuer.

     

    “Cleco Power” means Cleco Power, LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company, or its successor.

     

    “Closing Date” means the date on which the Storm Recovery Bonds are to be originally issued in accordance with Section 2.10 of the Indenture.

     

    “Financing Order” means Financing Order No. U-35807-B issued by the Louisiana Commission on April 1, 2022 in Docket No. U-35807 pursuant to the Securitization Act.

     

    “Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc., or any successor in interest.

     

    “Governmental Authority” means any court or any federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or governmental instrumentality.

     

    “Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of June 22, 2022, among the Issuer and the Trustee, and the Series Supplement (including the forms and terms of the Storm Recovery Bonds), as the same may be
      amended and supplemented with respect to the Storm Recovery Bonds from time to time.

     

    
      Appendix A-1

      
        

    

    “Issuance Advice Letter” means the issuance advice letter submitted to the Louisiana Commission on June 13, 2022 by the Seller pursuant to the Financing Order in connection with the issuance of the
      Storm Recovery Bonds.

     

    “Issuer” means Cleco Securitization I LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company, or its successor under the Indenture.

     

    “Lien” means a security interest, lien, charge, pledge, equity or encumbrance of any kind.

     

    “Louisiana Commission” means the Louisiana Public Service Commission or any successor.

     

    “Louisiana Commission Pledge” means the pledge of the Louisiana Commission found in Part VI(G) of the Financing Order.

     

    “Louisiana UCC Filing Officer” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Servicing Agreement.

     

    “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor in interest.

     

    “Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed, in the case of the Seller, by any manager, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, any vice president, the chief
      compliance office & general counsel, the treasurer, the assistant treasurer, the secretary, or any assistant secretary of the Seller.

     

    “Opinion of Counsel” means one or more written opinions of counsel who may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or the Seller, which counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, the
      Louisiana Commission, the Issuer or the Rating Agencies, as applicable, and which shall be in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Louisiana Commission, if applicable.

     

    “Person” means any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust (including any beneficiary thereof), business trust, limited liability company,
      unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

     

    “proceeding” means any suit in equity, action at law or other judicial or administrative proceeding.

     

    “Prospectus” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06 hereof.

     

    “Purchase Price” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a) hereof.

     

    “Rate Schedule” means Rate Schedule SRCA (Storm Recovery Cost Adjustment) and Rate Schedule SCSA (Storm Cost Surcredit Adjustment) filed by the Seller pursuant to ordering paragraph 10 of the
      Financing Order.

     

    
      Appendix A-2

      
        

    

    “Rating Agency” means any rating agency rating the Storm Recovery Bonds at the applicable time at the request of the Issuer, which initially shall be Moody’s, Fitch and S&P.  If no such
      organization or successor is any longer in existence, “Rating Agency” shall be a nationally recognized statistical rating organization or other comparable Person designated by the Issuer, written notice of which designation shall be given to the
      Trustee, the Louisiana Commission and the Servicer.

     

    “Rating Agency Condition” means, with respect to any action, at least ten business days’ prior written notification to each rating agency of such action, and written confirmation from each of S&P
      and Moody’s to the servicer, the trustee and us that such action will not result in a suspension, reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating by such rating agency of any tranche of the storm recovery bonds and that prior to the taking of the
      proposed action no other rating agency hall have provided written notice to us that such action has resulted or would result in the suspension, reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating of any such tranche of the storm recovery bonds;
      provided, that, if within such ten business day period, any rating agency (other than S&P) has neither replied to such notification nor responded in a manner that indicates that such rating agency is reviewing and considering the notification,
      then (i) the requesting party shall be required to confirm that such rating agency has received the rating agency condition request, and if it has, promptly request the related rating agency condition confirmation and (ii) if the rating agency
      neither replies to such notification nor responds in a manner that indicates it is reviewing and considering the notification within five business days following such second request, the applicable rating agency condition requirement hall not be
      deemed to apply to such rating agency.  For the purposes of this definition, any confirmation, request, acknowledgment or approval that is required to be in writing may be in the form of electronic mail or a press release (which may contain a general
      waiver of a rating agency’s right to review or consent).

     

    “S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc., or any successor in interest.

     

    “Secured Parties” mean the Trustee, the Storm Recovery Bondholders and any credit enhancer described in the Series Supplement.

     

    “Securitization Act” means the Louisiana Electric Utility Storm Recovery Securitization Act, codified at La. R.S. 45:1226-1240, the Louisiana legislation adopted in May 2006 and amended in June 2021,
      providing for a financing mechanism through which electric utilities can use securitization financing for storm recovery costs.

     

    “Seller” means Cleco Power, or its successor, in its capacity as seller of the Storm Recovery Property to the Issuer pursuant to the Sale Agreement.

     

    “Servicer” means Cleco Power, in its capacity as the servicer under the Servicing Agreement, and each successor to or assignee of Cleco Power (in the same capacity) pursuant to the relevant sections
      of the Servicing Agreement.

     

    “Servicer Default” means the occurrence and continuation of one of the events specified in Section 7.01 of the Servicing Agreement.

     

    
      Appendix A-3

      
        

    

    “Servicing Agreement” means the Storm Recovery Property Servicing Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2022, between the Issuer and the Servicer and acknowledged by the Trustee, as the same may be amended
      and supplemented from time to time.

     

    “Storm Recovery Bond” means any of the Senior Secured Storm Recovery Bonds issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture and the Series Supplement.

     

    “Storm Recovery Bondholder” means a Person in whose name a Storm Recovery Bond is registered on the Storm Recovery Bond Register.

     

    “Storm Recovery Bond Register” has the meaning specified in Section 2.05 of the Indenture.

     

    “Storm Recovery Charges” means the nonbypassable amounts to be charged for the use or availability of electric services, approved by the Louisiana Commission in the Financing Order that may be
      collected by the Seller, its successors, assignees or other collection agents as provided for in the Financing Order.

     

    “Storm Recovery Property” means all of Seller’s rights and interest under the Financing Order (including, without limitation, rights to impose, collect and receive the “storm recovery charges” (as
      defined in the Securitization Act) approved in such Financing Order) issued by the Louisiana Commission on April 1, 2022 (Docket No. U-35807) pursuant to the Securitization Act, except the rights of Seller to earn and receive a rate of return on its
      invested capital in the Issuer, to receive administration and servicer fees, to withdraw funds from its restricted storm recovery reserves funded by the proceeds from the sale of the Storm Recovery Property (including to recover prudently incurred
      storm recovery costs for additional Hurricane Laura related work by netting against the restricted regular storm recovery reserve), or to use the Seller’s remaining portion of those proceeds.

     

    “Trust Estate” means the “Series Trust Estate” as such term is defined in the Series Supplement.

     

    “Trustee” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, or its successor or any successor Trustee under the Indenture.

     

    “UCC” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(iv) hereof.

     

    
      Appendix A-4

      
        

    

    
    EXHIBIT A

     

    BILL OF SALE

     

    	1.	
            This Bill of Sale is being delivered pursuant to the Storm Recovery Property Sale Agreement, dated as of June 22, 2022 (the “Sale Agreement”), between Cleco Power LLC (the “Seller”) and Cleco Securitization I LLC (the “Issuer”).  All
              capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Sale Agreement.

          

     

    	2.	
            In consideration of the Issuer’s payment to the Seller of $                 , receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Seller does hereby irrevocably sell, transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey to the Issuer, without recourse
              or warranty, except as set forth in the Sale Agreement, all right, title and interest of the Seller in, to and under the Storm Recovery Property identified on Schedule 1 hereto (such sale, transfer,
              assignment, setting over and conveyance of the Storm Recovery Property includes, to the fullest extent permitted by the Securitization Act, the right to impose, collect and receive the Storm Recovery Charges related to the Storm Recovery
              Property, as the same may be adjusted from time to time).  Such sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance is hereby expressly stated to be a sale or other absolute transfer and, pursuant to Section 1230(1) of the Securitization
              Act and other applicable law, is a true sale and is not a secured transaction and title and ownership has passed to the Issuer.  The preceding sentence is the statement referred to in Section 1230 of the Securitization Act.  The Seller agrees
              and confirms that, after giving effect to the sale evidenced by this Bill of Sale, the Seller has no right, title or interest in, to or under the Storm Recovery Property.

          

     

    	3.	
            The Issuer does hereby purchase the Storm Recovery Property identified on Schedule 1 hereto from the Seller for the consideration set forth in paragraph 2 above.

          

     

    	4.	
            The Seller and the Issuer each acknowledge and agree that the purchase price for the Storm Recovery Property sold pursuant to this Bill of Sale and the Sale Agreement is equal to its fair market value on the date hereof.

          

     

    	5.	
            The Seller confirms that each of the representations and warranties on the part of the Seller contained in the Sale Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on the date hereof as if made on the date hereof.

          

     

    	6.	
            This Bill of Sale may be executed by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

          

     

    	7.	
            THIS BILL OF SALE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER
              SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.

          

     

    
      Exhibit A-1

      
        

    

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Seller and the Issuer have duly executed this Bill of Sale as of the           day of                       , 2022.

     

    	 	
            CLECO SECURITIZATION I LLC,

          
	 	
            as Issuer,

          
	 	 	 
	 	
            By:

          	 
	 	 	
            Name:

          
	 	 	
            Title:

          

    

    

    	 	
            CLECO POWER LLC,

          
	 	
            as Seller,

          
	 	 	 
	 	
            By:

          	 
	 	 	
            Name:

          
	 	 	
            Title:

          

    

    

    
      Exhibit A-2

      
        

    

    
    SCHEDULE 1

    to

    BILL OF SALE

     

    Storm Recovery Property

     

    All of Seller’s rights and interest under Financing Order Number U-35807-B (including, without limitation, rights to impose, collect and receive the “storm recovery charges” (as defined in the
      Securitization Act) approved in such Financing Order) issued by the Louisiana Commission on April 1, 2022 (Docket No. U-35807) pursuant to the Securitization Act, except the rights of Seller to earn and receive a rate of return on its invested
      capital in the Issuer, to receive administration and servicer fees, to withdraw funds from its restricted storm recovery reserves funded by the proceeds from the sale of the Storm Recovery Property (including to recover prudently incurred storm
      recovery costs for additional Hurricane Laura related work by netting against the restricted regular storm recovery reserve), or to use the Seller’s remaining portion of those proceeds. This Bill of Sale covers the foregoing described Storm Recovery
      Property described in such Financing Order.

     

     

      Schedule 1-1Exhibit 10.3

      

    

    ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT

     

    ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT, dated as of June 22, 2022 (this “Administration Agreement”), is by and between CLECO SECURITIZATION I LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company, as Issuer (the “Issuer”),
      and CLECO POWER LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company (“Cleco Power”), as Administrator (in such capacity, the “Administrator”).  Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in Appendix
      A to the Indenture (as defined below).  Not all terms defined in Appendix A are used in this Administration Agreement.  The rules of construction set forth in Appendix A shall apply to this Administration Agreement and are hereby incorporated by
      reference into this Administration Agreement as if set forth in this Administration Agreement.

     

    W I T N E S S E T H:

     

    WHEREAS, the Issuer is issuing Storm Recovery Bonds pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of the date hereof and the Series Supplement thereto, also dated as of the date hereof (the “Series
      Supplement”) (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Indenture”), between the Issuer and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as the Trustee;

     

    WHEREAS, the Issuer has entered into certain agreements in connection with the issuance of the Storm Recovery Bonds, including (i) the Indenture and the Series Supplement, (ii) the Storm Recovery
      Property Servicing Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Servicing Agreement”), between the Issuer and Cleco Power, as Servicer, (iii) the Storm Recovery Property Sale Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Sale Agreement”), between the
      Issuer and Cleco Power, as Seller, and (iv) the Letter of Representations, dated as of May 27, 2022 (the “Depository Agreement”), among the Issuer, the Trustee and The Depository Trust Company relating to the Storm Recovery Bonds (the Indenture, the
      Series Supplement, the Servicing Agreement, the Sale Agreement and the Depository Agreement, as such agreements may be amended and supplemented from time to time, being referred to hereinafter collectively as the “Initial Related Agreements”);

     

    WHEREAS, pursuant to the Initial Related Agreements, the Issuer is required to perform certain duties in connection with the Initial Related Agreements, the Storm Recovery Bonds and the Trust Estate
      pledged to the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture;

     

    WHEREAS, the Issuer may from time to time enter into and be required to perform certain duties under additional agreements similar to the Initial Related Agreements (together with the Initial Related
      Agreements, the “Related Agreements”);

     

    WHEREAS, the Issuer has no employees, other than its officers, and does not intend to hire any employees, and consequently desires to have the Administrator perform certain of the duties of the
      Issuer referred to in the preceding clauses and to provide such additional services consistent with the terms of this Administration Agreement and the Related Agreements as the Issuer may from time to time request; and

     

    WHEREAS, the Administrator has the capacity to provide the services and the facilities required thereby and is willing to perform such services and provide such facilities for the Issuer on the terms
      set forth herein;

     

    
      1

      
        

    

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree
      as follows:

     

    	1.	
            Duties of the Administrator: Management Services.  The Administrator hereby agrees to provide the following corporate management services to the Issuer and to cause third parties to provide professional services required for or contemplated by such
                services in accordance with the provisions of this Administration Agreement:

          

     

    	

          	(i)	
            furnish the Issuer with ordinary clerical, bookkeeping and other corporate administrative services necessary and appropriate for the Issuer, including, without limitation, the following services:

          

     

    	

          	(A)	
            maintain at the Premises (as defined below) general accounting records of the Issuer (the “Account Records”), subject to year-end audit, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, separate and apart from its own
              accounting records, prepare or cause to be prepared such quarterly and annual financial statements as may be necessary or appropriate and arrange for year-end audits of the Issuer’s financial statements by the Issuer’s independent
              accountants;

          

     

    	

          	(B)	
            prepare and, after execution by the Issuer, file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and any applicable state agencies documents required to be filed with the Commission and any applicable state agencies,
              including, without limitation, periodic reports required to be filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

          

     

    	

          	(C)	
            prepare for execution by the Issuer and cause to be filed such income, franchise or other tax returns of the Issuer as shall be required to be filed by applicable law (the “Tax Returns”) and cause to be paid on behalf of the Issuer from
              the Issuer’s funds any taxes required to be paid by the Issuer under applicable law;

          

     

    	

          	(D)	
            prepare or cause to be prepared for execution by the Issuer’s managers (the “Managers”) minutes of the meetings of the Managers and such other documents deemed appropriate by the Issuer to maintain the separate limited liability company
              existence and good standing of the Issuer (the “Company Minutes”) or otherwise required under the Related Agreements (together with the Account Records, the Tax Returns, the Company Minutes, the Issuer LLC Agreement, and the Issuer Articles
              of Organization, the “Issuer Documents”); and any other documents deliverable by the Issuer thereunder or in connection therewith; and

          

     

    
      2

      
        

    

    	

          	(E)	
            hold, maintain and preserve at the Premises (or such other place as shall be required by any of the Related Agreements) executed copies (to the extent applicable) of the Issuer Documents and other documents executed by the Issuer
              thereunder or in connection therewith;

          

     

    	

          	(ii)	
            take such actions on behalf of the Issuer, as are necessary or desirable for the Issuer to keep in full effect its existence, rights and franchises as a limited liability company under the laws of the state of Louisiana and obtain and
              preserve its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which it becomes necessary to be so qualified;

          

     

    	

          	(iii)	
            take such actions on behalf of the Issuer, as are necessary for the issuance and delivery of the Storm Recovery Bonds;

          

     

    	

          	(iv)	
            provide for the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under each of the Related Agreements, and prepare, or cause to be prepared, all documents, reports, filings, instruments, notices, certificates and opinions that it shall be the
              duty of the Issuer to prepare, file or deliver pursuant to the Related Agreements;

          

     

    	

          	(v)	
            enforce each of the rights of the Issuer under the Related Agreements, at the direction of the Trustee;

          

     

    	

          	(vi)	
            provide for the defense, at the direction of the Managers, of any action, suit or proceeding brought against the Issuer or affecting the Issuer or any of its assets;

          

     

    	

          	(vii)	
            provide office space (the “Premises”) for the Issuer and such reasonable ancillary services as are necessary to carry out the obligations of the Administrator hereunder, including telecopying, duplicating and word processing services;

          

     

    	

          	(viii)	
            undertake such other administrative services as may be appropriate, necessary or requested by the Issuer; and

          

     

    	

          	(ix)	
            provide such other services as are incidental to the foregoing or as the Issuer and the Administrator may agree.

          

     

    In providing the services under this Section 1 and as otherwise provided under this Administration Agreement, the Administrator will not knowingly take any actions on behalf of the Issuer which (i)
      the Issuer is prohibited from taking under the Related Agreements, or (ii) would cause the Issuer to be in violation of any federal, state or local law or the Issuer LLC Agreement.

     

    In performing its duties hereunder, the Administrator shall use the same degree of care and diligence that the Administrator exercises with respect to performing such duties on its own account and,
      if applicable, for others.

     

    
      3

      
        

    

    	2.	
            Compensation.

          

     

    	

          	(a)	
            As compensation for the performance of the Administrator’s obligations under this Administration Agreement (including the compensation of Persons serving as Managers (other than the independent Manager(s)) and officers of the Issuer, but,
              for the avoidance of doubt, excluding the performance by Cleco Power of its obligations in its capacity as Servicer), the Administrator shall be entitled to $100,000.00 annually (the “Administration Fee”), with no escalation, payable by the
              Issuer in arrears proportionately on each Payment Date, in semi-annual increments of $50,000.00, which shall be prorated based on the fraction of a calendar year during which the Administrator provides any of the services set forth in this
              Administration Agreement. In addition, the Administrator shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Issuer for all costs and expenses of services performed by unaffiliated third parties and actually incurred by the Administrator in connection
              with the performance of its obligations under this Administration Agreement in accordance with Section 3 (but, for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any such costs and expenses incurred by Cleco Power in its capacity as Servicer), to the
              extent that such costs and expenses are supported by invoices or other customary documentation and are reasonably allocated to the Issuer (“Reimbursable Expenses”).

          

     

    	

          	(b)	
            In the event that one or more series of Additional Storm Recovery Bonds, (i.e., other than the Storm Recovery Bonds) is issued by the Issuer, the administration fees and other costs and expenses
              described above payable by the Issuer may be assessed to each series of storm recovery bonds (including the Storm Recovery Bonds) on a pro rata basis, based upon the respective outstanding principal amounts of each series of storm recovery
              bonds, and this Administration Agreement may be amended to provide that Cleco Power will provide administrative services to the Issuer with respect to any such series of Additional Storm Recovery Bonds.

          

     

    	3.	
            Third Party Services.  Any services required for or contemplated by the performance of the above-referenced services by the Administrator to be provided by unaffiliated third parties (including independent accountants’ fees and legal counsel fees) may,
                if provided for or otherwise contemplated by the Financing Order and if the Issuer deems it necessary or desirable, be arranged by the Issuer or by the Administrator at the direction (which may be general or specific) of the Issuer.  Costs
                and expenses associated with the contracting for such third-party services may be paid directly by the Issuer or paid by the Administrator and reimbursed by the Issuer in accordance with Section 2, or otherwise as the Administrator and the
                Issuer may mutually arrange.

          

     

    	4.	
            Additional Information to be Furnished to the Issuer.  The Administrator shall furnish to the Issuer from time to time such additional information regarding the Trust Estate as the Issuer shall reasonably request.

          

     

    	5.	
            Independence of the Administrator.  For all purposes of this Administration Agreement, the Administrator shall be an independent contractor and shall not be subject to the supervision of the Issuer with respect to the manner in which it accomplishes the
                performance of its obligations hereunder.  Unless expressly authorized by the Issuer, the Administrator shall have no authority, and shall not hold itself out as having the authority, to act for or represent the Issuer in any way and shall
                not otherwise be deemed an agent of the Issuer.

          

     

    
      4

      
        

    

    The work to be performed under this Administration Agreement is part of the Issuer’s business and is an integral part of and is essential to the business and operations of the Issuer.  For purposes
      of the Louisiana Worker’s Compensation Act, the Issuer is deemed to be the statutory employer of the Administrator’s employees who perform the services under this Administration Agreement.  Although the Issuer is to be granted the protections that
      are afforded a statutory employer under Louisiana law, this provision is included for the sole purpose of establishing a statutory employer relationship between the Issuer and the Administrator’s personnel within the meaning of La. R.S. 23:1061(A)
      and is not intended to create an employer / employee relationship as between the Issuer and the Administrator’s personnel for any other purpose.  The Administrator shall be and remain primarily responsible for the payment of workers’ compensation
      benefits to the Administrator’s personnel and shall not be entitled to seek contribution for any such payments from the Issuer, and the Administrator further shall indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and at the Issuer’s option defend the Issuer
      for any payment to the Administrator’s personnel of workers’ compensation benefits or from any claim for such benefits or any other employee claim.

     

    	6.	
            No Joint Venture. 

                Nothing contained in this Administration Agreement (a) shall constitute the Administrator and the Issuer as partners or co-members of any partnership, joint venture, association, syndicate, unincorporated business or other separate entity,
                (b) shall be construed to impose any liability as such on either of them or (c) shall be deemed to confer on either of them any express, implied or apparent authority to incur any obligation or liability on behalf of the other.

          

     

    	7.	
            Other Activities of Administrator.  Nothing herein shall prevent the Administrator or any of its members, managers, officers, employees, subsidiaries or affiliates from engaging in other businesses or, in its sole discretion, from acting in a similar
                capacity as an Administrator for any other person or entity even though such person or entity may engage in business activities similar to those of the Issuer.

          

     

    	8.	
            Term of Agreement; Resignation and Removal of Administrator.

          

     

    	

          	(a)	
            This Administration Agreement shall continue in force until the payment in full of the Storm Recovery Bonds and any other amount which may become due and payable under the Indenture, upon which event this Administration Agreement shall
              automatically terminate.

          

     

    	

          	(b)	
            Subject to Sections 8(e) and 8(f), the Administrator may resign its duties hereunder by providing the Issuer and the Rating Agencies with at least sixty (60) days’ prior written notice.

          

     

    	

          	(c)	
            Subject to Sections 8(e) and 8(f), the Issuer may remove the Administrator without cause by providing the Administrator and the Rating Agencies with at least sixty (60) days’ prior written notice.

          

     

    
      5

      
        

    

    	

          	(d)	
            Subject to Sections 8(e) and 8(f), at the sole option of the Issuer, the Administrator may be removed immediately upon written notice of termination from the Issuer to the Administrator and the Rating Agencies if any of the following
              events shall occur:

          

     

    	

          	(i)	
            The Administrator shall default in the performance of any of its duties under this Administration Agreement and, after notice of such default, shall fail to cure such default within ten (10) days (or, if such default cannot be cured in
              such time, shall (A) fail to give within ten (10) days such assurance of cure as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and (B) fail to cure such default within 30 days thereafter);

          

     

    	

          	(ii)	
            a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief, and such decree or order shall not have been vacated within sixty (60) days, in respect of the Administrator in any involuntary case under any applicable
              bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or such court shall appoint a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for the Administrator or any substantial part of its
              property or order the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs; or

          

     

    	

          	(iii)	
            the Administrator shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law,
              shall consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or similar official for the Administrator or any substantial part of its property, shall consent to the taking of possession by any such
              official of any substantial part of its property, shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due.

          

     

    The Administrator agrees that if any of the events specified in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this Section 8(d) shall occur, it shall give written notice thereof to the Issuer and the Trustee as soon as
      practicable but in any event within seven (7) days after the happening of such event.

     

    	

          	(e)	
            No resignation or removal of the Administrator pursuant to this Section 8(e) shall be effective until (i) a successor Administrator has been appointed by the Issuer, (ii) the Rating Agency Condition with respect to the proposed appointment
              has been satisfied and (iii) such successor Administrator has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Administration Agreement in the same manner as the Administrator is bound hereunder.

          

     

    	

          	(f)	
            The appointment of any successor Administrator shall be effective only after satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition with respect to the proposed appointment.

          

     

    
      6

      
        

    

    	9.	
            Action upon Termination, Resignation or Removal.  Promptly upon the effective date of termination of this Administration Agreement pursuant to Section 8(a), the resignation of the Administrator pursuant to Section 8(b) or the removal of the
                Administrator pursuant to Section 8(c) or 8(d), the Administrator shall be entitled to be paid a pro-rated portion of the annual fee described in Section 2 hereof through the date of termination and all Reimbursable Expenses incurred by it
                through the date of such termination, resignation or removal.  The Administrator shall forthwith upon such termination pursuant to Section 8(a) deliver to the Issuer all property and documents of or relating to the Trust Estate then in the
                custody of the Administrator.  In the event of the resignation of the Administrator pursuant to Section 8(b) or the removal of the Administrator pursuant to Section 8(c) or 8(d), the Administrator shall cooperate with the Issuer and take
                all reasonable steps requested to assist the Issuer in making an orderly transfer of the duties of the Administrator.

          

     

    	10.	
            Administrator’s Liability.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Administrator assumes no liability other than to render or stand ready to render the services called for herein, and neither the Administrator nor any of its members, managers,
                officers, employees, subsidiaries or affiliates shall be responsible for any action of the Issuer or any of the members, managers, officers, employees, subsidiaries or affiliates of the Issuer (other than the Administrator itself).  The
                Administrator shall not be liable for nor shall it have any obligation with regard to any of the liabilities, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent of the Issuer or any of the members, managers, officers, employees,
                subsidiaries or affiliates of the Issuer (other than the Administrator itself).

          

     

    	11.	
            INDEMNITY.

          

     

    (a)      SUBJECT TO THE PRIORITY OF PAYMENTS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE, THE ISSUER SHALL INDEMNIFY
        THE ADMINISTRATOR, ITS MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AFFILIATES AGAINST ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, JUDGMENTS, LIABILITIES AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL EXPENSES OF LITIGATION OR PREPARATION THEREFOR
        WHETHER OR NOT THE ADMINISTRATOR IS A PARTY THERETO) WHICH ANY OF THEM MAY PAY OR INCUR ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS ADMINISTRATION AGREEMENT AND THE SERVICES CALLED FOR HEREIN; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH INDEMNITY SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY
        SUCH LOSS, CLAIM, DAMAGE, PENALTY, JUDGMENT, LIABILITY OR EXPENSE RESULTING FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR’S NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.

     

    (b)     THE ADMINISTRATOR SHALL INDEMNIFY THE ISSUER, ITS MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
        AGAINST ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, PENALTIES, JUDGMENTS, LIABILITIES AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL EXPENSES OF LITIGATION OR PREPARATION THEREFOR WHETHER OR NOT THE ISSUER IS A PARTY THERETO) WHICH ANY OF THEM MAY INCUR AS A
        RESULT OF THE ADMINISTRATOR’S NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.

     

    
      7

      
        

    

    	12.	
            Notices.  Any
                notice, report or other communication given hereunder shall be in writing and addressed as follows:

          

     

    	 	
            (a)

          	
            if to the Issuer, to:

          
	 	 	 
	 	 	
            Cleco Securitization I LLC

          
	 	 	
            505 Cleco Drive, Office Number 16

          
	 	 	
            Pineville, Louisiana 71360

          

     

    	 	
            (b)

          	
            if to the Administrator, to:

          
	 	 	 
	 	 	
            Cleco Power LLC

          
	 	 	
            2030 Donahue Ferry Road,

          
	 	 	
            Pineville, Louisiana 71360-5226

          
	 	 	
            Attention: Treasurer

          

    

    

    or to such other address as either party shall have provided to the other party in writing. Any notice required to be in writing hereunder shall be deemed given if such notice is mailed by certified mail, postage
      prepaid, or hand-delivered to the address of such party as provided above.

     

    	13.	
            Amendments. 
                This Administration Agreement may be amended from time to time by a written amendment duly executed and delivered by each of the Issuer and the Administrator, provided that (i) the Rating Agency Condition has been satisfied in connection
                therewith, (ii) the Trustee shall have consented and (iii) in the case of any amendment that increases ongoing financing costs as defined in the Financing Order, the LPSC shall have consented thereto or shall be conclusively deemed to have
                consented thereto. With respect to the LPSC’s consent to any amendment to this Administration Agreement,

          

     

    	

          	(a)	
            the Administrator may submit the amendment to the LPSC by delivering to the LPSC’s executive counsel a written request for such consent, which request shall contain:

          

     

    	

          	(i)	
            a reference to Docket No. U-35807 and a statement as to the possible effect of the amendment on ongoing financing costs;

          

     

    	

          	(ii)	
            an Officer’s Certificate stating that the proposed amendment has been approved by all parties to this Administration Agreement; and

          

     

    	

          	(iii)	
            a statement identifying the person to whom the LPSC or its staff is to address its consent to the proposed amendment.

          

     

    
      8

      
        

    

    	

          	(b)	
            Any amendment requiring the consent of the LPSC as provided in this Section 13 shall become effective on the later of:

          

     

    	

          	(i)	
            the date proposed by the parties to the amendment, or

          

     

    	

          	(ii)	
            31 days after such submission of the amendment to the LPSC unless the LPSC issues an order disapproving the amendment within a 30-day period.

          

     

    Following delivery of a notice to the LPSC by the Administrator under Section 13(a) above, the Administrator and Issuer may at any time withdraw from the LPSC further consideration of any notification of a proposed
      amendment.

     

    	14.	
            Successors and Assigns. This Administration Agreement may not be assigned by the Administrator unless such assignment is previously consented to in writing by the Issuer and the Trustee and subject to the satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition in
                connection therewith. Any assignment with such consent and satisfaction, if accepted by the assignee, shall bind the assignee hereunder in the same manner as the Administrator is bound hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
                Administration Agreement may be assigned by the Administrator without the consent of the Issuer or the Trustee and without satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition to a corporation or other organization that is a successor (by merger,
                reorganization, consolidation or purchase of assets) to the Administrator; provided that such successor organization executes and delivers to the Issuer an agreement in which such corporation or other organization agrees to be bound
                hereunder by the terms of said assignment in the same manner as the Administrator is bound hereunder. Subject to the foregoing, this Administration Agreement shall bind any successors or assigns of the parties hereto. Upon satisfaction of
                all of the conditions of this Section 14, the preceding Administrator shall automatically and without further notice be released from all of its obligations hereunder.

          

     

    	15.	
            Governing Law. 
                This Administration Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, without reference to its conflict of law provisions, and the obligations, rights and remedies of the parties hereunder shall be
                determined in accordance with such laws.

          

     

    	16.	
            Headings.  The
                Section headings hereof have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be construed to affect the meaning, construction or effect of this Administration Agreement.

          

     

    	17.	
            Counterparts. 
                This Administration Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same Administration Agreement.

          

     

    	18.	
            Severability.
                Any provision of this Administration Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof and any
                such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

          

     

    
      9

      
        

    

    	19.	
            Nonpetition Covenant.  Notwithstanding any prior termination of this Administration Agreement, the Administrator covenants that it shall not, prior to the date which is one year and one day after payment in full of the Storm Recovery Bonds, acquiesce,
                petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Issuer to invoke the process of any court or government authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining an involuntary case against the Issuer under any U.S. federal or state bankruptcy,
                insolvency or similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Issuer or any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the
                affairs of the Issuer.

          

     

    	20.	
            Pledge to Trustee.  The Administrator hereby acknowledges and consents to any pledge and grant of a security interest by the Issuer to the Trustee for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the Indenture of any or all of the Issuer’s rights
                hereunder.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Trustee is a third-party beneficiary of this Administration Agreement and is entitled to the rights and benefits hereunder and may enforce the provisions hereof as if it were a party hereto.

          

     

    [Rest of page intentionally left blank]

    

    

    
      10

      
        

    

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Administration Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

     

    	 	
            CLECO SECURITIZATION I LLC,

          	 
	 	
            as Issuer

          	 
	 	 	 
	 	
            By:

          	/s/ William G. Fontenot

          	 
	 	 	
            Name: William G. Fontenot

            

          	 
	 	 	
            Title: President

            

          	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	
            CLECO POWER LLC,

          	 
	 	
            as Administrator

          	 
	 	 	 
	 	
            By:

          	/s/ William G. Fontenot

          	 
	 	 	
            Name: William G. Fontenot

            

          	 
	 	 	
            Title: Chief Executive Officer

            

          	 

    

     

  

  11

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