Issues & Initiatives

Commissioner Greene’s priorities are affordability, reliability and sustainability.

The modern world requires residents and businesses have affordable and reliable power 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  To provide this power we need reliable energy resources.  To make this reliability affordable, an all of the above strategy is necessary.  That strategy employs natural gas and other dispatchable resources, harnesses renewables when and where they are most affordable and available, and utilizes storage to extend the usefulness of those renewables. I believe that affordability is enhanced when we create an environment that promotes investment in generation resources that are not exclusively paid for by captive utility customers.  Lastly, as a Christian, Republican, hunter, and fisherman, I believe conservatives should lead the effort in conservation.  We must be good stewards of the earth God has blessed us with and utilize our resources responsibly to preserve the natural world for our children and our children’s children.

Reducing Utility Bills through Energy Efficiency

Louisiana is an energy intensive state.  We use a lot of electricity to cool and heat our homes.  The basic economic calculation of energy efficiency is upfront investment in energy efficiency equals customer savings.  The LPSC is creating a statewide energy efficiency program that will bring funding directly to homes and businesses for efficiency methods like weatherization, energy-efficient technology, lighting upgrades, and more that can reduce electric bills. It is important to me that energy efficiency projects go directly to reducing customers’ electric bills.  Therefore, I am working with my fellow Commissioners to replace the existing utility-run energy efficiency program – a system that pays utilities for any revenues a utility deems they’ve lost from customers using less electricity – with a program whereby the Commission hires independent energy efficiency experts to carry out projects directly with residents and business owners.  Enhancing homeowners and business owners’ ability to better control their usage will empower customers to lower their electric bills and enhance their standard of living.

Enhance Maintenance and Resilience of the Electric Grid

I am working with my Commission colleagues on three initiatives underway at the LPSC.  First, establishing rules that require utilities to collaborate and communicate to clean up the decaying parts of our utility grid more efficiently.  Too often, electric and telecommunication utilities point the finger at somebody else to fix broken poles, remove hanging wires, or clean up abandoned equipment. New Commission standards will put an end to this and ensure utilities leave our communities in better shape.  Second, the LPSC is developing regulations to make certain companies are properly allocating money customers pay on their bill to adequately maintain and bolster our grid.  Lastly, the Commission is undertaking a comprehensive, statewide resiliency planning initiative, utilizing cost effective strategies and independent engineers to ensure Louisiana has an electric grid that better serves customers.

Advocating for Competitive Investment in Louisiana

We are going to need new power plants in the future.  The question is – what are the most affordable ways to build future plants? Traditionally, Louisiana utility customers have borne the risk and cost of these large-scale utility investments. Technology has changed that landscape. There are now different tools in the toolbox other than the traditional way of approving only utility customer funded, utility owned power plants.  I am fighting for rule changes at the Commission that will open Louisiana to the business development that comes from companies competing to build new generation.  Companies that are willing to risk their money, rather than captive utility customers’ money, to build power plants should be encouraged to do so.  Louisiana residents and businesses can see lower bills when they are not the only ones asked to pay for power plants. 

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