Good news! LPSC doubles Energy Efficiency Quick Start program budget!

By Jessica Hendricks, AAE State Policy Director

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) has come into focus over the past week or so, namely around a proposed withdrawal from MISO and the enormous costs associated with storm damage, but there was also a pretty significant win that you may have missed.

​As we will continue to say, the LPSC needs to prioritize finalizing the Energy Efficiency rules, recognizing that we are now entering Program Year 8 of the Quick Start program, the Commission did approve the program extension BUT WITH DOUBLE THE BUDGET!

​The original Quick Start rules, passed in 2013 limited utility spending to .50% of the utility's 2012 retail revenues. For Entergy Louisiana, that amounted to $8.5 million in 2019, which served an estimated 94,000 customers including 461 low-income customers and 28 multi-family, residential building upgrades. We’re excited to see the impacts of such a budget increase!

While this is a considerable victory, we still need to push the Commission to finalize long-term energy efficiency rules, with energy savings goals. While I’m a big fan of spending money, the goal is to save energy and reduce demand in order to lower utility bills for all of us and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. So call your Commissioner and thank him for increasing the energy efficiency budget, but also let him know that we still have work to do!
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About the Author

Jessica Hendricks brings over seven years of policy experience to the Alliance from a community organizing perspective, serving Environmental Justice communities by addressing environmental health concerns, around the country and internationally through citizen science projects.

​After developing multiple successful projects with communities in states like Idaho, Wyoming, Arkansas and Pennsylvania, Jessica landed in New Orleans focused on building statewide momentum for more equitable and affordable energy policy in Louisiana.

​Since joining the Alliance, Jessica has engaged with the Louisiana Public Service Commission on issues including Net Metering, Energy Efficiency and was successful in negotiating the lowest rates in the Country for Entergy Louisiana customers.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Jessica has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, a passion for community empowerment and civic engagement, an insatiable love for international travel and spends off time geeking out to New Orleans’ rich and quirky history.