Investigation into Entergy New Orleans’ Paid Actors- What you need to know

10.30.2018

Utility Regulation

New Orleans City Council

Entergy New Orleans

Consumer Protection

Bills & Economics

Dirty Energy

Updated December 8, 2018

The results from the Independent Investigation into Entergy’s Paid Actor Scandal hit the presses late last night.

Here’s the deal, Entergy paid actors to show up at New Orleans City Hall in support of their gas plant, then lied about knowing about it.

They compromised our democratic process and kept real community members out of the room. So, what’s City Council going to do about it?? Well after pouring over the legal resolutions, we found out the Council is proposing a $5 million dollar fine and some ethics classes (R-18-474).

Just as a reminder, City council approved Entergy’s spending of over $210 Million to build their power plant, for which Entergy earns over 11% profit (paid for by everyone with a light bill). This Fortune 500 company lied repeatedly to elected officials, regulators, and the public whom they serve while undermining our democratic process.

So a $5 million fine? New Orleans Deserves Better.

Here’s all the info you need:

WDSU: Entergy knew it was paying for actors at not 1, but 2 meetings, by Juliana Mazza
WWL TV: Mayor Cantrell, council members react to findings in Entergy paid actor investigation
Energy & Policy Institute: Entergy Leaves Questions Unanswered in Paid Actor Scandal, by Daniel Tait
The Lens: Actors were paid to support Entergy’s power plant at New Orleans City Council meetings, by Michael Isaac Stein
Some handy news clips and videos if you’re more into cliff notes
What Entergy has to say about it

Have something to say about the $5,000,000 sanction proposed?

File your comments with the council!

How to Submit Comments

Background & Timeline

June, 2016- Entergy New Orleans (ENO) submits an application for a 226 megawatt CT Gas Plant that would cost upwards of $230,000,000
April, 2017- ENO asks to suspend their application and the ensuing council decision after their updated load forecast shows much less power is required than previously planned.
July, 2017- ENO Submits a 2nd application with 2 options for gas power plants: the 226 megawatt gas plant (proposed in the first application) or 7 gas engines that generate 128 megawatts of electricity.
October 16th, 2017- City Council holds a public meeting for community input and dozens of actors hired by Entergy masquerade as community members in support of the plant.
February 21st, 2018- City Council’s Utility Committee holds a public meeting and vote on Entergy’s proposed gas plant. Entergy employees along with dozens of paid actors are given back-door access to the meeting space resulting in members of the public being locked out. Advocates from the community alert the council about both the paid actors and the people locked out but the situation is mostly ignored. The council votes 4-1 in favor of the 128 megawatt plant.
March 8th, 2018- Despite community outcry, City Council votes 6-1 in favor of Entergy’s 128 mW gas plant.
March 11th, 2018- Individuals come forward, admitting to being paid by Entergy’s to act as community members in public meetings.
April, 2018 Public Interest Intervenors (The Alliance for Affordable Energy, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Earthjustice, Sierra Club and 350 New Orleans) respond with a lawsuit against New Orleans City Council over Louisiana Open Meetings Law Violation, petition for rehearing, and petition for judicial review.
May 24th- Amid public cries for justice, on May 24th New Orleans City Council, “passed a motion initiating the investigation into Entergy New Orleans and demanding the company hand over all documents related to the use of paid actors and the company’s internal investigation into the matter. In June, Entergy handed over hundreds of pages of contracts, emails, and invoices related to the power plant campaign” (Read more here).
October 29, 2018- Investigators release the Final Report, commissioned by City Council, detailing the extent to which Entergy interfered in the public comment process last spring related to the gas plant in New Orleans East.
Wednesday, October 31st at 1pm- New Orleans City Council held a special hearing to reveal the findings from the paid actor investigation. Councilmembers opened a new docket to allow public input on how the city should respond to this miscarriage of justice. Call, email, or write to your councilmember!