Issues
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.
PSC Duties
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.
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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.
