About Us

Mission & Vision History Alliances Our People

WHO WE ARE

Since 1985, AAE has been working to ensure affordable, equitable and environmentally responsible energy policy for the people of Louisiana.

We work hard to give Louisiana residents a voice in keeping the lights on and fighting for an energy future that works for everyone. The Alliance is the only dedicated consumer advocate in Louisiana for utility customers. While utilities fight for their own bottom lines and shareholder returns, The Alliance advocates for residents and businesses to ensure Louisianans aren’t paying more than their fair share.

The Alliance fights for residents through our three programs: Consumer Protection & Education, Clean Energy, and Energy Efficiency.

 

Through our three decades of service, we continue to be on the frontline demanding lower bills, cleaner energy solutions, more good-paying jobs, and better infrastructure. As both a consumer advocate and public health advocacy organization, our policy work meets at the crossroads of social justice, sustainable economic development, and environmental protection.

As a result of our work Louisiana consumers have saved over $400 million in the last 10 years and over $4 billion since our founding in 1985. The Alliance for Affordable Energy is committed to transforming our “energy state” into a “clean energy leader” in the south through a just transition that includes the voices of those most impacted.

AAE adheres to the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing and The Principles of Environmental Justice (EJ)

"We, at the Alliance, believe we have a responsibility to be actively anti-racist, to call out unjust actions, and to fight for a world that does not threaten the lives of our friends, our neighbors, and those whose names we don’t yet know."
Our History
The Alliance for Affordable Energy is Founded
The Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE) formed to combat NOPSI's Grand Gulf nuclear power plant project due to its high costs, lack of transparency, and questionable benefit to New Orleans ratepayers. With no existing oversight, AAE aimed to pressure NOPSI and hold it accountable in a way the City Council did not, ensuring utilities acted in customers' best interests.
1985
Won regulatory authority over NOPSI
We won the campaign to get regulatory authority over NOPSI back to the City Council &/or municipalization
1985
City Council does not allow $135M of imprudent costs to be passed on to customers
In a 1991 rate case, the New Orleans City Council found $476.58 million of NOPSI's Grand Gulf 1 costs were imprudently incurred. While the Council disallowed $135 million from being passed to customers, AAE appealed and called for the Council to hold NOPSI accountable for the full costs. The Louisiana Court of Appeals ultimately sided with AAE and ratepayers were not forced to pay for NOPSI's mistakes.
1991
Energy Policy Act was passed
The 1992 Energy Policy Act aimed to reduce U.S dependence on petroleum and improve air quality by addressing supply and demand of alternate fuels, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and in turn increased competition in the utility industry.
1992
Sale of Cleco to the Macquarie group was approved by the LPSC
Despite approval from Cleco shareholders, the LPSC voted against the sale in 2015 with a two-thirds majority, citing concerns that the sale was not in the best interest of Cleco customers who were at risk to bear the financial burden of the sale and other company debt. After continued discussions and testimony, the LPSC voted to approve the sale of Cleco to the Macquarie Group in March of 2017.
2017
The Cleco sale to the Macquarie group was approved and Cleco passed from public to private hands
As a result, Cleco passed from public to private hands. The Commission approved the sale after a concession from the Macquarie Group that they would not request a rate increase before June 2020 and an offering of an initial $136 million rate credit for Cleco customers.
2017
Established Gulf South's first Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard (RCPS)
The New Orleans City Council unanimously voted to establish a Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard (RCPS) for the city of New Orleans, and the first in the Gulf South. After over two years of work on a policy to get polluting and fossil fuels out of New Orleans’ energy mix, this policy prioritizes local solar and efficiency first.
2021
LPSC votes 3-2 approving long-term energy efficiency programs
The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) approved long-term energy efficiency programs for Louisianans that will scale up over the coming decade to save energy and money, improve health and safety, and invest millions of dollars in homes and small businesses.
2024
The creation of this timeline was a multi-person effort that spanned over
four years of research through historic archives, libraries, and records.

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