At the state level, the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) regulates most utilities. This includes 3 investor-owned (for-profit) utilities, Entergy Louisiana (ELL), Cleco & SWEPCO, as well as co-operative utilities. Every state has a Public Service Commission, sometimes also called a Public Utility Board, which has regulatory authority over utilities.
If you live in New Orleans, the City Council is responsible for regulating its investor-owned electric and gas utility, Entergy New Orleans. Typically this authority rests at a state level Commission, like the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Other cities, like Alexandria and Lafayette have local control of municipal utilities, which are not intended to make a profit, and so are not “regulated.”
The Louisiana Legislature plays a role as an elected body that makes decisions about general policy for the state. While they are not regulators, and do not make decisions about utility rates or applications, they have the authority to put laws in place that utilities are required to follow.
There are several agencies on the federal level that perform similar regulatory functions. These include the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Over a dozen municipalities in Louisiana own and manage their own utilities. These are publicly owned, with local elected officials making policy and rate decisions.
Most states designate and fund a consumer advocate to act as an independent and unbiased advocate for residents in the state. Louisiana is one of 3 states (along with Georgia, and Idaho) in the US that does not have a consumer advocate designated and funded by the government.
The Alliance is the only dedicated consumer advocate in Louisiana for utility customers. We advocate for Louisiana ratepayers and all residents of our state at the LPSC and CNO by monitoring proceedings, intervening in dockets, and even making recommendations to individual commissioners and councilmembers. As your Watchdog The Alliance works to hold electric and gas utilities and their regulators accountable by ensuring the publics best interests are represented.