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Regulatory Issues Taken Up By The Council
LEED Ordinance | RFP/Q | Keep Bills Down | Hurricane Ida Investigation | Campaign Contributions | RCPS | Management Audit | Winter Storm Uri | ENO $5 Million Fine | NOPS | SWBNO & ENO | ENO Financial Reports
Council Approves LEED Ordinance
July 7, 2022 | At the New Orleans City Council’s July 7th meeting, Councilmembers adopted an ordinance that will bring City buildings up to LEED Gold Standards.
By bringing City buildings up to LEED Gold standards, as the federal government and school board have done with their buildings in New Orleans, we will reduce energy demand, alleviate stress on our overburdened grid, and lower the City’s carbon footprint.
New Orleans is both a city particularly vulnerable to a changed climate, and one with enormous opportunity for gains in energy efficiency and green building. The historic character of New Orleans does not mean that we must rely on the building standards of the 19th century. Sustainable building is an act of preservation, and it is time for New Orleans’ municipal building stock to meet contemporary standards.
By bringing City buildings up to LEED Gold standards, as the federal government and school board have done with their buildings in New Orleans, we will reduce energy demand, alleviate stress on our overburdened grid, and lower the City’s carbon footprint.
New Orleans is both a city particularly vulnerable to a changed climate, and one with enormous opportunity for gains in energy efficiency and green building. The historic character of New Orleans does not mean that we must rely on the building standards of the 19th century. Sustainable building is an act of preservation, and it is time for New Orleans’ municipal building stock to meet contemporary standards.
Council Re-issues Entergy New Orleans Management Audit RFQ/P
April 8, 2022 | The New Orleans City Council is seeking the services of a qualified individual or firm to perform a management audit of Entergy New Orleans.
Apply now! Email: espears@nola.gov
If selected, the respondent will be expected to conduct a management audit of Entergy New Orleans, LLC and to draft a report which evaluates and provides recommendations as necessary on the following:
The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, May 13, 2022.
Apply now! Email: espears@nola.gov
If selected, the respondent will be expected to conduct a management audit of Entergy New Orleans, LLC and to draft a report which evaluates and provides recommendations as necessary on the following:
- Leadership and staffing roles, responsibilities, and requirements,
- Organizational structure, decision-making processes, internal controls, and external relations of all kinds,
- Billing operations and verification method,
- Emergency planning and response,
- Salary and compensation levels, and
- Corporate culture and capacity to address the critical issues of climate change, a transition to a renewable energy system, advanced energy efficiency, and ensuring energy justice.
The deadline to submit proposals is Friday, May 13, 2022.
Council protects rates and votes to keep bills down
October 27, 2021 | Great news! Today, thanks to the public outcry over increases to Entergy rates the Council approved a resolution to protect people and keep bills down. The resolution will use a $17.4M bill credit to mitigate (on electric side only) an increase on electricity rates for 5 months.
Also, the Council opened a new docket on resilience and storm hardening for our energy system. This is where we work out how to put power where the people are and keep folks safe. We need this effort across the state too!
Next week: Full council MUST approve $5m from covid relief to be set aside for gas bill belief.
Also, the Council opened a new docket on resilience and storm hardening for our energy system. This is where we work out how to put power where the people are and keep folks safe. We need this effort across the state too!
Next week: Full council MUST approve $5m from covid relief to be set aside for gas bill belief.
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Full Council voted to initiate investigation & independent management audit of Entergy after Ida
September 23, 2021 | Today the Council voted to initiate an investigation and independent management audit of Entergy in response to questions about Entergy's preparation and response to Hurricane Ida.
At the Council's Regular Meeting the full Council passed:
These actions were taken in response to a letter sent by EFNO earlier this month and a motion for investigations filed by The Alliance, DSCEJ and Sierra Club on September 14th, 2021 urging such action. The letter and motion cited multiple failures of Entergy, including:
Read more about the repeated failures of Entergy New Orleans and the Entergy Companies and why we need an independent management audit in the motion for investigations AAE and its partners filed on September 14th.
At the Council's Regular Meeting the full Council passed:
- Motion M-21-342 directing CURO to develop the scope for a request for qualifications & proposals for a consultant to conduct a management audit of Entergy.
- Resolution R-21-343 directing the Advisors to conduct an investigation into Entergy's preparation and response to Hurricane Ida.
- Resolution R-21-344 requesting the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) investigate Entergy Louisiana & it's failures resulting from Hurricane Ida
- Resolution R-21-345 requesting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) review Entergy Louisiana’s transmission planning & the transmission failures that affected New Orleans during Hurricane Ida.
These actions were taken in response to a letter sent by EFNO earlier this month and a motion for investigations filed by The Alliance, DSCEJ and Sierra Club on September 14th, 2021 urging such action. The letter and motion cited multiple failures of Entergy, including:
- Entergy failed to harden transmission lines in an appropriate manner, leading to the catastrophic failure of eight transmission lines that were purportedly upgraded to withstand hurricane strength winds of 140 mph.
- Entergy misled the Council regarding the black start capabilities of the New Orleans Power Station (NOPS) in a reckless attempt to ensure that the gas plant it coveted was approved by the Council.
- Unannounced power outages on Mardi Gras Day in excess of four times the required load shed in below-freezing temperatures that also shut off electric service to the city’s essential water services.
- Intentional safety violations at the Grand Gulf nuclear plant with exorbitant costs passed onto customers.
Read more about the repeated failures of Entergy New Orleans and the Entergy Companies and why we need an independent management audit in the motion for investigations AAE and its partners filed on September 14th.
Council moves forward with new rules limiting the Council's ability to accept campaign contributions from the utilities they regulate
July 15, 2021 | The Council passed Resolution R-21-268 further limiting the Council's ability to accept campaign contributions from the utilities they regulate, utility advisors, and other consultants with professional service contracts to assist the Council.
As both a legislative body and the regulator of a publicly-owned electric and gas utility, the New Orleans City Council has enormous power to affect the everyday lives of New Orleanians.
Public officials should strive to instill confidence in electoral and regulatory processes. Even the appearance of impropriety or favoritism is fatal to that public confidence. A prohibition on campaign contributions from regulated entities and those that receive lucrative public contracts -- the utility advisors’ contracts alone amount to nearly $7M annually -- is a simple and necessary measure in order to ensure the integrity of our elections and good governance in our city council.
As both a legislative body and the regulator of a publicly-owned electric and gas utility, the New Orleans City Council has enormous power to affect the everyday lives of New Orleanians.
Public officials should strive to instill confidence in electoral and regulatory processes. Even the appearance of impropriety or favoritism is fatal to that public confidence. A prohibition on campaign contributions from regulated entities and those that receive lucrative public contracts -- the utility advisors’ contracts alone amount to nearly $7M annually -- is a simple and necessary measure in order to ensure the integrity of our elections and good governance in our city council.
New Orleans City Council takes action on climate change
May 20, 2021 | The full New Orleans City Council unanimously voted to adopt R-21-182, establishing a Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard (RCPS) for the city of New Orleans.
The RCPS is a legal mandate that requires that, by 2040, all of the electricity Entergy supplies to New Orleans comes from energy sources that do not add to the climate crisis, with up to 10% offsets allowed. By 2050 Entergy must entirely eliminate the use of fossil fuels.
After over two years of work on a policy to get polluting and fossil fuels out of New Orleans’ energy mix, thanks to petitions, symposia, community meetings, online town halls, and your input, the New Orleans Council has voted to approve the first Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard in the Gulf South. Today New Orleans joined the now 32 states and three US territories that have established renewable energy mandates.
The RCPS is a legal mandate that requires that, by 2040, all of the electricity Entergy supplies to New Orleans comes from energy sources that do not add to the climate crisis, with up to 10% offsets allowed. By 2050 Entergy must entirely eliminate the use of fossil fuels.
After over two years of work on a policy to get polluting and fossil fuels out of New Orleans’ energy mix, thanks to petitions, symposia, community meetings, online town halls, and your input, the New Orleans Council has voted to approve the first Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard in the Gulf South. Today New Orleans joined the now 32 states and three US territories that have established renewable energy mandates.
Councilmember Helena Moreno agrees to move forward with a management audit of Entergy
March 16, 2021 | Update from EFNO - City Councilmember Helena Moreno announced that she is in agreement with a management audit of Entergy based on recommendations by EFNO members and partner organizations. The audit will help identify cost-savings and recommend corrective action for improved service.
Months of sky-high bills and an unannounced blackout by Entergy on a freezing Mardi Gras night are among the “cascade of Entergy failures” described in the EFNO’s March 15th letter to City Councilmembers calling for an audit of Entergy. According to the letter, Entergy has “evaded” presenting the facts of what caused these problems at special meetings before Council committees.
“People are hurting as a result of Entergy’s failure to provide basic service that is reliable and affordable. Simply meeting with Entergy won’t cut it,” said Logan Burke, Executive Director Alliance for Affordable Energy.
AAE is hopeful that this independent management audit of Entergy New Orleans from the top to the bottom of the corporation is the first step towards concrete regulatory action by the elected leaders responsible for the regulation of Entergy.
EFNO’s letter points to the precedent of an independent management audit forced on Hawaii’s utility that identified $20M in cost savings and service improvements. Their letter outlined the scope of a management audit of Entergy that includes the following:
EFNO also recommended the management audit include all Entergy companies that make decisions on service to New Orleans.
“People are hurting as a result of Entergy’s failure to provide basic service that is reliable and affordable. Simply meeting with Entergy won’t cut it,” said Logan Burke, Executive Director Alliance for Affordable Energy.
AAE is hopeful that this independent management audit of Entergy New Orleans from the top to the bottom of the corporation is the first step towards concrete regulatory action by the elected leaders responsible for the regulation of Entergy.
EFNO’s letter points to the precedent of an independent management audit forced on Hawaii’s utility that identified $20M in cost savings and service improvements. Their letter outlined the scope of a management audit of Entergy that includes the following:
- Leadership and staffing roles, responsibilities, and requirements
- Organizational structure, decision-making processes, internal controls, and external relations of all kinds
- Billing operations and verification method
- Emergency planning and response
- Salary and compensation levels
- Corporate culture and capacity to address the critical issues of climate change, a transition to a renewable energy system, advanced energy efficiency, and ensuring energy justice
EFNO also recommended the management audit include all Entergy companies that make decisions on service to New Orleans.
The Council Responds to Residents' Concerns as Winter Storms Revealed Serious Shortcomings of New Orlean's Energy Infrastructure
February 22, 2021 | Press Release - Council Utilities Chair Helena Moreno announced the launch of a Council inquiry into the level of weatherization in Entergy power production infrastructure to protect ratepayers from winter weather disruptions similar to those in Texas.
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In Texas, preliminary reports show that lack of weatherization caused the failure of natural gas, coal, wind and nuclear power generation. To prevent this type of catastrophe in our area, Chair Moreno has ordered the Council utility advisors to assess plants owned or partly owned by Entergy that serve New Orleans then issue a report on the status of weatherization. Based on that report, additional action by the Council may be taken. A letter informing Entergy New Orleans CEO David Ellis of this weatherization assessment was sent last Friday.
"Climate change continues to rapidly increase the stress on our infrastructure, and we must do more to protect ourselves from weather-related disruptions like those that caused chaos due to multi-day blackouts in Texas," said Council President Moreno. |
"I'm calling for an immediate review of the weatherization and preparation of the infrastructure that serves power to New Orleanians to ensure Texas-style disruption never happens here."
This matter will be discussed during Tuesday’s special Utilities and Public Works Committee meeting, along with the blackouts that occurred on the evening of February 16. The lack of communication from Entergy New Orleans left many customers confused regarding the protocol for blackouts, the reason power was lost, and why power for critical infrastructure like the Sewerage and Water Board was shut off.
The special joint Utility, Cable, Telecommunications and Technology and Public Works Committee meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, February 23, at 10 AM. To view the meeting agenda or submit public comments, click here. Live coverage will be available on the Council's website at council.nola.gov.
This matter will be discussed during Tuesday’s special Utilities and Public Works Committee meeting, along with the blackouts that occurred on the evening of February 16. The lack of communication from Entergy New Orleans left many customers confused regarding the protocol for blackouts, the reason power was lost, and why power for critical infrastructure like the Sewerage and Water Board was shut off.
The special joint Utility, Cable, Telecommunications and Technology and Public Works Committee meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, February 23, at 10 AM. To view the meeting agenda or submit public comments, click here. Live coverage will be available on the Council's website at council.nola.gov.
Photo credit Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
Show Cause $5 Million Fine
Motion M-18-196 initiated an independent third-party investigation of ENO relative to allegations that ENO, Entergy, or some other entity 'paid or participated in paying actors to attend and/or speak in support of NOPS at one or more public meetings in connection with ENO's NOPS application; and that as a result opponents of the NOPS plant were prevented from entering due to the limited capacity of the meeting rooms. On October 31, 2018, the Council adopted Resolution R-18-474 initiating a show cause proceeding regarding the imposition of sanctions against ENO based upon the Investigators' Report. As a result of the investigation Entergy was fined $5 million.
Go to our Lawsuits & Appeals page to learn more about two ongoing lawsuits related to the NOPS plant.
Go to our Lawsuits & Appeals page to learn more about two ongoing lawsuits related to the NOPS plant.
Resolutions, ORDINANCES, and more Resources
- 2019 05 22 R-19-78 ENO Code of Conduct & Ethics
- 2019 04 22 R-19-78 Ethics Training Certification
- 2019 03 25 R-18-474 ENO Final Settlement Show Cause Proceeding
- 2019 02 26 R-19-78 & UD-16-02 CNO Directing Cost Protections NOPS
- 2019 02 21 R-19-X & UD-16-02 CNO Settlement Resolution to ENO
- 2019 01 23 R-19-17 & UD-16-02 CNO Imposition of Sanctions
- 2019 01 02 R-18-474 & UD-18-X ENO Response & Objections to Resolution Concerning Community Relations & Customer Engagement Plan
- 2018 12 08 R-18-474 DSCEJ Comments
- 2018 12 03 R-18-474 Various Groups Comments
- 2018 11 30 R-18-474 AAE Comments
- 2018 11 30 R-18-474 & UD-18-X ENO Re. Show Cause
- 2018 11 30 UD-18-X ENO Letter to Donate $5 Million Re. Show Cause
- 2018 10 31 R-18-474 & UD-16-02 CNO Re. ENO Actor Show Cause
- 2018 10 29 M-18-196 Independent External Investigation into ENO's Application for the NOLA Power Station
- 2018 10 22 DSCEJ Petitioners Reply Brief
New Orleans Power Station (NOPS) Construction Costs
Pursuant to council Resolution R-19-78 at 13, Entergy New Orleans is to provide bi-monthly reports to the Council during the construction of NOPS, detailing expenditures made to date and the currently anticipated schedule for future expenditures.
Entergy New Orleans & Sewerage and Water Board Collection Reports
Pursuant to Council Resolution R-19-78 Entergy New Orleans, LLC is Collaborating with the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans to develop solutions to help ensure the reliability of electric service to SWB facilities, and to facilitate the transition of SWBNO to ENO as the primary source of reliable and economic power. The monthly reports below provide a status update on those efforts.
ENO Financial Reports & Expenditures
Monthly Reports, financing plans, and other expenditures
- 2019 04 11 CNO Ordinance Providing an Operating Budget of Revenues to Appropriate Penalty Settlement Funds
- 2019 03 25 ENO R-19-78 March 2019 Monthly Progress Report on Its Collaboration w/ S&WB
- 2019 03 25 ENO Bi-Monthly Report
- 2018 12 18 EL09-61-004 ENO Filing Pursuant to the Order on Initial Dec Issued by FERC
- 2018 12 14 ENO R-18-226 Sub Ref in the Matter of the Ex Parte App of ENO for Approval of Financing Plan
R-09-136 Increases to fuel adjustment
Quarterly Reports
- 2019 03 29 ENO Quarter Report Ended 12/31/18
- 2019 03 29 ENO R-13-162 Quarterly Accounting Report Related to RPCEA Filings
- 2019 02 14 ENO R-91-102 ENO's Quarterly Reports of Natural Gas Program Costs & Benefits
- 2018 12 28 ENO R-98-187 Report for the Quarter Ended 09/30/18
- 2018 12 28 ENO R-13-162 Quarterly Accounting Rep Related to RPCEA Filings