Every state has a Public Service Commission (PSC) which has regulatory authority over utilities. Typically, states also designate and fund a consumer advocate whose job is to represent consumers’ interests and protect consumers’ rights in regulatory proceedings. Many consumer advocates also run education and outreach programs that help consumers stay informed about energy issues that affect them.
NASUCA is an association of 55 consumer advocates in 43 states and the District of Columbia, Barbados, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. NASUCA’s members are designated by the laws of their respective jurisdictions to represent the interests of utility consumers before state and federal regulators and in the courts.
Louisiana is one of three states (along with Georgia, and Idaho) in the US that does not have a consumer advocate designated and funded by the government or other mechanism. Following the energy crisis of the 1970s, the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act led to the creation of many of these consumer advocate offices. The Alliance for Affordable Energy has stepped up to fill that role and is the only dedicated consumer advocate in Louisiana for energy utility customers.
The Alliance has compiled this list of consumer advocates by state.
*Consumer advocate’s not designated and funded by the government are bolded.
