This decision comes less than a month after the LPSC abruptly voted to terminate its contract with APTIM, the independent administrator who had been hired to design and implement the new, statewide program approved by the Commission in 2024.
“The Commission’s decision to scrap the program approved in 2024 and restart the rulemaking process is a clear message to Louisianans that they don’t understand the urgency of rising bills and the daily choices people are being forced to make between electricity, food, and medication,” said Logan Burke, AAE’s Executive Director.
Louisiana is once again back at square one—without a long-term plan to help residents and businesses reduce energy costs through efficiency. The Quickstart program the Commission has reverted back to is a limited, piecemeal program, run by the utilities themselves, a clear conflict of interest since utilities profit from selling more energy. As part of that program, under a controversial rate mechanism called Lost Contribution to Fixed Costs (LCFC), if a utility company sells less energy because customers are using less (thanks to efficient appliances, weatherizing, etc.), the utility is reimbursed for that “lost revenue”—meaning utilities earn money for energy you didn’t even use.
“This practice of double-dipping needs to stop,” said Alaina DiLaura, AAE’s LPSC Policy Coordinator. “If Commissioners really want to save people money, eliminating these ghost charges is a clear and easy way to do that.” The now scrapped third-party administered program would have finally ended this practice and saved Louisiana customers an estimated $6 million per year. Instead, the Commission chose to scrap the plan they spent 14 years drafting before even reviewing APTIM’s implementation report the public had already paid for.
Today’s vote delays progress yet again, leaving Louisiana without a comprehensive plan to reduce energy costs or meet future energy needs through efficiency. The Alliance is calling on the LPSC to prioritize meaningful solutions that put people first—not utility profits. That means transparency around the APTIM report, an end to LCFC “ghost charges,” a carveout for low-income customers, and a renewed commitment to delivering a statewide program that actually works for Louisianans.
“Every month without a robust energy efficiency program is money lost,” said DiLaura. “Louisianans deserve better. And they deserve it now.” The Alliance will continue to fight for an outcome that delivers real savings to every Louisiana household and business. We hope that the new process can come to a resolution in August so that a new program can get underway in 2026.
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About The Alliance for Affordable Energy
Since 1985, The Alliance for Affordable Energy has been working to ensure affordable, equitable, and environmentally responsible energy policy for ALL Louisiana energy consumers. As Louisiana’s only dedicated Watchdog we monitor, educate, and participate in state and city utility regulation to ensure the public’s best interests.
Contact
Emma Meyerkopf
Communication Manager, Alliance for Affordable Energy
504-229-4643
emma@all4energy.org
all4energy.org
