Public Service Commission
What does the PSC actually do?
The Louisiana Public Service Commissioner (PSC) is a constitutionally created and independent elected body. They are not at the direction of the governor or legislature. They have no one to report to other than the voters who elect them into office. This means you hold the power.
Do you know what your Public Service Commissioner actually does and are you engaging with them once they’re in office? If not, you’re giving them your power since you (the voter) is the only one who can actually hold them accountable. Public Service Commissioners are elected to 5 districts throughout the state.
Commissioners have complete and absolute power.
- Take action on behalf of all of us/Louisianans
- To ensure safe, reliable, and reasonably priced public utilities for most of Louisiana. These include water, gas, electricity, telephone, telecommunications, and intrastate transportation.
If it’s their job to regulate, why should I care?
Commissioners serve 6-year terms, with a 3-term limit.
That can add up to 18 years.
- They determine what costs are passed onto ratepayers
- They decide whether to invest in low-cost renewable energy sources
- They control how much you save or spend on needed utilities
- Commissioners can receive campaign donations from the utility industries they regulate which can give those companies more voice than the people they serve. Engaging with the PSC is a way you, the voter, stay in control and hold them accountable to YOU.
Elections for PSC Commissioners in Districts 1 and 5 will take place on May 15, 2026
PSC Matters Even More for Louisiana
A report from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor revealed that Louisiana residents spend more money every month on energy bills than the national average, but what we are paying for is less reliable. The report shows that in 2023, the average monthly cost of energy was $143 in Louisiana, but across the nation, the average was $137.
Painting the Full Picture
There’s a lot of conversation right now about why people are experiencing high energy bills. 71% of Louisiana’s Energy is powered by natural gas, and It’s easy to say the spike is because of the rising costs of natural gas. With complete power to help regulate reasonably priced public utilities like electricity, the PSC can help work towards solutions.
Here’s something the PSC decided on over the last 18 years that’s impacting you now.
In 2009 the Commission considered the possibility of switching to renewable energy sources. They declined the decision at the time because they thought renewable energy sources like wind and solar were too expensive, but If you look at the way the cost of wind and solar have dropped since 2009, it’s hard not to wonder how much your bill might be now if we had a more forward thinking elected-Commission.
Who’s controlling how much it costs to call my loved one in prison?
Louisiana is a national leader in incarceration rates. With an incarcerated population of over 50,000, countless families in our state are burdened by the high cost of prison phone calls. People with loved ones behind bars already face the hardship of limited in-person visits — and on top of that, they are hit with steep communication fees.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) is the body that controls and sets the cost of prison phone calls. In 2012, the PSC agreed to cut prison phone costs by 25%. Rates did drop by 2016, but as of 2021, Louisiana still ranks 38th in the nation for phone-call affordability.
Now, in November 2025, the FCC has rolled back regulations and raised the cap, allowing prisons and jails to charge more for phone and video calls. With federal protections shrinking, it is more important than ever for the Louisiana PSC to step up and bring down the cost of staying connected with incarcerated loved ones.
