Lambert C. Boissiere III
Willie Jones
"Mike" Francis
Shalon Latour
The average American household spends an average of 3% of their income on home energy costs. In 2021 over 149,000 households in Louisiana spent 23% of their income on their home energy costs. Many in the state have expressed high and unreasonable utility rates, particularly when looking at electricity. The job of the Public Service Commissioner is to ensure customers receive reliable utility service at rates that are reasonable and equitable. Do you feel enough is being done right now to address concerns of the people?
No
If not, what would you do differently?
As your next Commissioner, I will do whatever is necessary to help reduce energy cost burdens and get our light bills back to affordable. The PSC is tasked with regulating utilities in a way that is supposed to be "just & fair" and this usually means what is in the best interests of the community public as a whole. Unfortunately, the public does not effectively participate in the PSC agenda and instead relies on its Commissioners to do so on its behalf. Without continual input & engagement from the public, I do not think the Commissioners put the people priority all of the time over others such as the utility companies. In my opinion, how a Commissioner defines "just & fair" really should be left up to the people's interpretation --- the Commissioners should be in touch with the people so he/she can decisions that are in line with the people on issues like this. In short, I do not think the PSC serves the people in a "just & fair" all the time; at least not in a "just & fair" way as defined by the people and I would work to do differently. In my opinion, over the last several years, the PSC rules/policies have been molded in ways that make it much easier for the utility companies to prosper ...and often times, at the burden of the ratepayers; I would do this differently. The regulated utility companies are provided financial protections that afford them a fair profit which I understand and I am pro-business; but, that does not mean that the government (PSC) should facilitate the growth of a monopolized company. At minimum, I believe the PSC has the duty to make sure the public is getting a good deal. Normally, people consider equitably sharing costs to be "just & fair", but when one looks at the community public as a single entity, the PSC has an obligation to all ratepayers (the entire community public) to do what is "just & fair" for everyone. I do not mind offering an unpopular answer or idea, but perhaps the PSC should take a look at how they regulate some and not regulate others (Entergy Louisiana as compare to Entergy New Orleans) and take a look at the true cost of providing electrical service in coastal areas compared to less risky geographies. As your Commissioner, I will communicate with the people differently to better determine what the people believed to be "just & fair" for all. Too often the PSC Commissioners cite that the law allows for this or that, but seldom do you see the laws being changed in the best interests of the community public. As your Commissioner, I would do this differently. I would look to do whatever is needed for the best interests of the public --- and certainly, some of the rules/laws may need to be changed. Specific to the large number of low income households in our State, the PSC certainly can facilitate energy efficiency programs and can increase education and outreach in this area. In short, I think the PSC can do more to address the concerns of the people.
The PSC controls and sets the cost of prison phone calls. People with an incarcerated loved one are deprived of seeing them in person, and also face steep fees. With a total incarcerated population number of 62,534 people, and Louisiana being a leader in the nation for rates of incarceration, many families are impacted by the cost of prison call rates. Do you support lowering or eliminating prison call costs so incarcerated people will no longer be barred from communicating with their loved ones?
Yes
Do you support using public funds to defray energy costs to low-income residents and families?
Yes
Have you or do you plan to accept campaign contributions from any of the utilities and motor carriers the LPSC regulates?
No
{Due to decisions made by the LPSC over the last decade our state leans heavily on methane gas for power generation. Over the past four years alone, the LPSC approved four new gas-fired power plants which means over 71% of Louisiana’s electricity is generated with methane gas. Ultimately causing the costs of electricity to soar as the increase of gas prices increase. Existing integrated utility incentives have driven this build out of new gas power plants, but the PSC has the authority to explore new ways to bring low-cost power onto the grid. Do you support looking at new ways to lower costs for constituents?
Yes
Due to the impacts of climate change, our state faces persistent, dangerous and extreme heat in the summer. This summer, the PSC could require utility companies to continue to provide power to customers and put a moratorium on disconnections as electricity is imperative during these times but Louisiana ranks among some of the very worst energy burdens in the country, due to the intersection of high energy bills and high poverty rates. Would you use your authority to take steps in the short term to provide a moratorium to provide relief for customers?
Yes,No
Tell us more about your long-term goals for tackling this issue.
My goal as PSC Commissioner would be to regulate in a way to best provide essential public utilities in a safe, reliable, and affordable manner to our community public. Through energy efficiency programs and increased education/outreach, the PSC can help tackle the disproportionate energy consumption (inefficiencies/waste) of our poorest households; may not be able to eradicate poverty, but through education, consumers can better understand the cost of consuming utilities and be more informed/educated. Government cannot do everything for everybody, but there are lots of financial resources that are available to assist people with their light bills as well as energy conservation. A lot of people are eligible for utility assistance and though it may not be the PSC's job, the PSC can certainly help point people in the right directions when it comes to affordability of essential public utilities. We all know that people usually do not want to government telling them what to do in their lives but sometimes explaining to people (education) on how to utilize electrical consumption and ways to conserve energy would help tremendously. As your next Commissioner, I would like to see improved public access and increased education/outreach to utility customers by the PSC for and on behalf of the public.
What value do you think you can add in this role and why?
As a self-employed professional civil engineer with relevant education and 20+ years relevant work experience in providing essential public utilities to customers doorsteps, I can add value to the PSC which has the duty to regulate these public utilities.
11 What two things do you think you can accomplish in your first term?
If the people elect me (Jesse T. Thompson, P.E.) to serve as their next Louisiana Public Service Commissioner, the first and most important thing I am confident that I'll accomplish in a first term will be to bring the people's definition of "just & fair" back to the PSC when it comes to regulating public utilities and other consumer goods/services. Second, I think I can accomplish improving public access and increasing customer/consumer knowledge to make the PSC a more user friendly agency for the public and to help give the people access to the tools/resource necessary to better help themselves.
The average American household spends an average of 3% of their income on home energy costs. In 2021 over 149,000 households in Louisiana spent 23% of their income on their home energy costs. Many in the state have expressed high and unreasonable utility rates, particularly when looking at electricity. The job of the Public Service Commissioner is to ensure customers receive reliable utility service at rates that are reasonable and equitable. Do you feel enough is being done right now to address concerns of the people?
No
If not, what would you do differently?
I want to install an auditing program that insures the items the ratepayers are paying for in storm restoration cost are actual storm related and not items that have been neglected due to poor maintenance programs by the utility companies.
The PSC controls and sets the cost of prison phone calls. People with an incarcerated loved one are deprived of seeing them in person, and also face steep fees. With a total incarcerated population number of 62,534 people, and Louisiana being a leader in the nation for rates of incarceration, many families are impacted by the cost of prison call rates. Do you support lowering or eliminating prison call costs so incarcerated people will no longer be barred from communicating with their loved ones?
Yes
Do you support using public funds to defray energy costs to low-income residents and families?
No
Have you or do you plan to accept campaign contributions from any of the utilities and motor carriers the LPSC regulates?
No
{Due to decisions made by the LPSC over the last decade our state leans heavily on methane gas for power generation. Over the past four years alone, the LPSC approved four new gas-fired power plants which means over 71% of Louisiana’s electricity is generated with methane gas. Ultimately causing the costs of electricity to soar as the increase of gas prices increase. Existing integrated utility incentives have driven this build out of new gas power plants, but the PSC has the authority to explore new ways to bring low-cost power onto the grid. Do you support looking at new ways to lower costs for constituents?
Yes
Due to the impacts of climate change, our state faces persistent, dangerous and extreme heat in the summer. This summer, the PSC could require utility companies to continue to provide power to customers and put a moratorium on disconnections as electricity is imperative during these times but Louisiana ranks among some of the very worst energy burdens in the country, due to the intersection of high energy bills and high poverty rates. Would you use your authority to take steps in the short term to provide a moratorium to provide relief for customers?
Yes
Tell us more about your long-term goals for tackling this issue.
Louisiana needs to explore all forms of energy and offer alternatives to methane gas energy producing generators. Over the last 30 years we have been unwilling to look into change, but we have to if we are going to move forward and protect the ratepayers of Louisiana. We need to help the ratepayers by offering programs that help educate the people on the importance of make their homes more energy efficient. We have a lot of older homes in the state, we have to help the low income people get their homes more energy efficient. By helping bring their homes more energy efficient, we can reduce the amount of energy they are having to purchase. The PSC should be helping people save money, but the group we have now, are just helping the utility companies make more money for their shareholders.
What value do you think you can add in this role and why?
My value comes from the fact that I am not affiliated with a party and I am not accepting any campaign contributions. This allows me to be held accountable to only the people of District 4 and the people of Louisiana. My word is my bond. The PSC has been a springboard for politicians in Louisiana to move on to bigger political aspirations. I do NOT want to move on to bigger politics in the Louisiana. I just want to help Louisianans get a fair voice in the PSC.
11 What two things do you think you can accomplish in your first term?
1- I want to bring a field auditing system for storm related charges. We need to be more diligent in what we are having the ratepayers pay for in this area. I have been in storm clean-up for 20 years, so I know some of the products that we are paying for is not storm related damage. It is the lack of proper maintenance. 2- I want to bring more options into the state for renewable energy. We have fallen so far behind in this area due to our current PSC board wanting to protect shareholders of utility companies and not have the best interest of the ratepayer. Louisiana is 3rd to last in the nation; only ahead of West Virginia and Kentucky coal producing states in alternative energy development.
The average American household spends an average of 3% of their income on home energy costs. In 2021 over 149,000 households in Louisiana spent 23% of their income on their home energy costs. Many in the state have expressed high and unreasonable utility rates, particularly when looking at electricity. The job of the Public Service Commissioner is to ensure customers receive reliable utility service at rates that are reasonable and equitable. Do you feel enough is being done right now to address concerns of the people?
No
If not, what would you do differently?
I’d overhaul the PSC’s weatherization and energy efficiency programs, to vastly expand their scale and take them out of the utility companies’ hands, which have no incentive for them to succeed.
I’d restore full credit for rooftop solar (“net-metering”), which the PSC took away in 2019.
I’d implement a Community Solar program, to bring solar savings to renters.
I’d expand solar & wind, which are now the cheapest forms of power, to replace coal & gas, which have exploded in cost.
Part of the reason for the increase in utility bills is excessive influence from utility companies. To limit that influence, I’d prohibit any Public Service Commissioner from accepting campaign donations from any regulated entity or entity with business before the Commission.
The PSC controls and sets the cost of prison phone calls. People with an incarcerated loved one are deprived of seeing them in person, and also face steep fees. With a total incarcerated population number of 62,534 people, and Louisiana being a leader in the nation for rates of incarceration, many families are impacted by the cost of prison call rates. Do you support lowering or eliminating prison call costs so incarcerated people will no longer be barred from communicating with their loved ones?
Yes
Do you support using public funds to defray energy costs to low-income residents and families?
Yes
Have you or do you plan to accept campaign contributions from any of the utilities and motor carriers the LPSC regulates?
No
{Due to decisions made by the LPSC over the last decade our state leans heavily on methane gas for power generation. Over the past four years alone, the LPSC approved four new gas-fired power plants which means over 71% of Louisiana’s electricity is generated with methane gas. Ultimately causing the costs of electricity to soar as the increase of gas prices increase. Existing integrated utility incentives have driven this build out of new gas power plants, but the PSC has the authority to explore new ways to bring low-cost power onto the grid. Do you support looking at new ways to lower costs for constituents?
Yes
Due to the impacts of climate change, our state faces persistent, dangerous and extreme heat in the summer. This summer, the PSC could require utility companies to continue to provide power to customers and put a moratorium on disconnections as electricity is imperative during these times but Louisiana ranks among some of the very worst energy burdens in the country, due to the intersection of high energy bills and high poverty rates. Would you use your authority to take steps in the short term to provide a moratorium to provide relief for customers?
Yes
Tell us more about your long-term goals for tackling this issue.
In the short term, I would: 1) Aggressively pursue federal funds under the Infrastructure Bill and Inflation Reduction Act to pay for resilience upgrades. 2) Prevent Entergy and other utility companies from using “storm recovery riders” to pay for already funded deferred maintenance investments. Over the medium to long term, I would: 1) Lower bills by overhauling energy-efficiency and weatherization programs, taking them out of the hands of the utility companies and vastly expanding their scale. 2) Restore full credit for rooftop solar (“net-metering”), which PSC took away in 2019. 3) Implement Community Solar to bring solar savings to renters. 4) Pass a renewable portfolio standard, requiring utility providers to shift to 100% renewable fuel sources by 2040. This also will lower costs, because wind and solar have become the cheapest fuel-sources — about 50% cheaper than gas, 200% cheaper than coal and 375% cheaper than nuclear.
What value do you think you can add in this role and why?
I helped lead a strategy that won campaign finance reform at New Orleans City Council to prohibit City Council members from receiving campaign contributions from Entergy and other regulated entities. I helped win a Renewable & Clean Portfolio Standard at New Orleans City Council, which mandates that Entergy New Orleans shift to 100% renewable and clean energy by 2050. I’ve fought for criminal justice reform my entire life and worked with incarcerated youth and their families, as part of Justice and Beyond, Ubuntu Village and the Youth Justice Advisory Board. I worked with churches and community institutions across South Louisiana to help develop the Community Lighthouse Project, a new model for grid resilience and disaster response, which has raised $11 million and won endorsements from the U. S. Department of Energy, Congressman Troy Carter, the Mayor and City Council and is soon to be the largest network of solar-powered resilience hubs in the country. Finally, I am a pastor, which informs everything about my approach to people, issues and public life.
11 What two things do you think you can accomplish in your first term?
1) Overhauling weatherization and energy-efficiency programs and passing a clean energy standard to shift Louisiana’s electricity generation to 100% renewable fuel sources by 2040. 2) Prohibiting members of the Public Service Commission from receiving campaign contributions from any entity it regulates or with business ties to the Commission 3) Ending exorbitant collect-call rates for prisoners in Louisiana jails to reduce the financial burden for families with incarcerated family members.
The average American household spends an average of 3% of their income on home energy costs. In 2021 over 149,000 households in Louisiana spent 23% of their income on their home energy costs. Many in the state have expressed high and unreasonable utility rates, particularly when looking at electricity. The job of the Public Service Commissioner is to ensure customers receive reliable utility service at rates that are reasonable and equitable. Do you feel enough is being done right now to address concerns of the people?
No
If not, what would you do differently?
Corporations currently enjoy free rein to funnel massive profits to their shareholders while shutting off power, water or gas to ordinary Louisianans who can’t afford their bills. As a state, we can agree that the basic needs of our most vulnerable residents should come before the interests of out of state investors. As a Public Service Commissioner, I will work to enforce a Ratepayers’ Bill of Rights to limit service disconnections, provide a fixed billing system for senior citizens, ban excessive late fees and strengthen the cap on the maximum profit that investor owned utilities companies can extract from their customers.
The PSC controls and sets the cost of prison phone calls. People with an incarcerated loved one are deprived of seeing them in person, and also face steep fees. With a total incarcerated population number of 62,534 people, and Louisiana being a leader in the nation for rates of incarceration, many families are impacted by the cost of prison call rates. Do you support lowering or eliminating prison call costs so incarcerated people will no longer be barred from communicating with their loved ones?
Yes
Do you support using public funds to defray energy costs to low-income residents and families?
Yes
Have you or do you plan to accept campaign contributions from any of the utilities and motor carriers the LPSC regulates?
No
{Due to decisions made by the LPSC over the last decade our state leans heavily on methane gas for power generation. Over the past four years alone, the LPSC approved four new gas-fired power plants which means over 71% of Louisiana’s electricity is generated with methane gas. Ultimately causing the costs of electricity to soar as the increase of gas prices increase. Existing integrated utility incentives have driven this build out of new gas power plants, but the PSC has the authority to explore new ways to bring low-cost power onto the grid. Do you support looking at new ways to lower costs for constituents?
Yes
Due to the impacts of climate change, our state faces persistent, dangerous and extreme heat in the summer. This summer, the PSC could require utility companies to continue to provide power to customers and put a moratorium on disconnections as electricity is imperative during these times but Louisiana ranks among some of the very worst energy burdens in the country, due to the intersection of high energy bills and high poverty rates. Would you use your authority to take steps in the short term to provide a moratorium to provide relief for customers?
Yes
Tell us more about your long-term goals for tackling this issue.
Embracing renewable energy - particularly solar and wind - would not only help to combat further climate change, but would also bring down costs for ratepayers and reduce pollution in our air and water. Incentivizing these energy sources would give Louisiana the opportunity to create a New Energy Economy, with high-paying, union jobs. As such, the PSC should be taking steps towards adopting a statewide renewable portfolio standard for all Louisiana utilities. This standard should set goals for the state to eliminate utility-based carbon emissions by 2035, in line with Louisiana’s Climate Action Plan.
What value do you think you can add in this role and why?
I’m both a policy expert and someone who has personally experienced many of the struggles my district neighbors and potential constituents face every day. Month to month, far too many of us lack the means to reliably and affordably keep our homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Far too many of us have to worry about having clean water to drink and clean air to breath. In my work for the Louisiana Budget Project, I’ve developed expertise in public policy and advocacy that our district needs to stand against corporate interests and rebuild our utility system to work for working people, not just Entergy’s shareholders. I have a history of standing up and bringing accountability to powerful politicians, payday lenders, and powerful entities that do not center people. I have fought and am currently suing the state for the illegal and racist redistrcting maps adopted earlier this year. My career has involved building multi-racial, bipartisan, and cross-generational coalitions to push forward policies that improve the lives of the people of Louisiana. My experiences as a Board Member of the University of Louisiana System, Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assualt, and the Friends of the Captial Park Museum have given me the experiences needed to work with government agencies and tackle complex, multi-system issues. The functions of the Commission require understanding complex issues and working with many different parties. My career in advocacy and public service and lived experiences have prepared me to handle these challenges.
11 What two things do you think you can accomplish in your first term?
I will work to enforce a Ratepayers’ Bill of Rights that limits service disconnections, provides a fixed billing system for senior citizens, bans excessive late fees and strengthens the cap on the maximum profit that investor owned utilities companies can extract from their customers. I will push for utilities to speed up adoption of clean, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind and promote adoption of rooftop solar and home batteries across the state. These technologies will reduce pollution, improve public health, and cut costs for ratepayers. As a Public Service Commissioner, I will ensure that the PSC takes a leading role in meeting the Louisiana Climate Action Plan's goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2035.
