Recently, the Alliance for Affordable Energy – an organization I used to run – sent a letter, also signed by several respected progressive organizations,* to the City Council asking them to open a docket to investigate “utility spending related to advertising, public relations, consulting, lobbying and commissioned research for ‘Operation Gridiron.’” (Operation Gridiron is Entergy New Orleans’ moniker for the 10-year modernization and reliability infrastructure plan.)
It’s clear from the letter’s signatories that their organizations remain focused on punishing Entergy for the fake-actors scandal. From my perspective, that colossal misstep by former Entergy leadership was a watershed moment that allowed for profound change at our local utility. The previous leadership was no friend to progressive energy policy or at all concerned about fighting climate change.
After the scandal, to regain the city’s trust, Entergy Corp. let go of everyone associated with the scandal and transitioned new management into New Orleans. Today, Entergy New Orleans is led by Deanna Rodriguez who started just before Hurricane Ida in 2021. In my opinion, she has proven to have the skills to manage the demands of a challenging city.” I have known Deanna for years and I can attest to her integrity. While we don’t always agree, she is respectful and willing to change course based on new information and a compelling argument. She is a negotiator, not a bully. With this change in management, New Orleans finally has leadership open to progressive ideas about managing our grid to overcome our city’s unique challenges, including storms, poverty, climate vulnerability, flooding, sinking wetlands, and historically poor infrastructure.
I support ENO’s infrastructure improvement plan because reliability and grid resilience are essential to New Orleans’ future. To work against the goal of a better grid system is anathema to advocating for ratepayers and the environment. Ignoring opportunity for the sake of holding a grudge is senseless. Sadly, nearly every ratepayer/environmental advocate group in New Orleans remains focused on the past, which cannot be changed.
Yes, our bills are high. And, ratepayers absolutely should not pay for lobbying. But the truth is, we don’t. The Council barred Entergy New Orleans from using ratepayer dollars to pay for these types of activities. Further, federal and state laws prevent utilities from passing lobbying, association dues, and advertising costs onto ratepayers. The letter misleads people into thinking that there are no rules, but it is also a distraction from making our city more storm-resistant. I studied the plan and found that it would overwhelmingly benefit the city’s most vulnerable communities.
We have few resources, time being the most precious. The New Orleans City Council should focus on how we withstand the next storm while making inroads into helping local ratepayers lower their bills. For instance, they could promote a “whole house” energy efficiency program to help the people of New Orleans waste less energy. The top reason our bills are high is that most of our housing stock qualifies for the historic registry. Currently, there are too many barriers to energy efficiency programs for renters (half the ratepayers) and low-income housing building owners. There are a multitude of ways our Council and utility could be working for the city instead of the constant bickering over something that happened six years ago (2018).
It is time to move on. I started RNO because of this new ENO leadership and the failure of others to capitalize on the incredible opportunity to push progressive energy policy forward. For the time being, with a responsible City Council and serious ENO leadership, the cards are (for once) stacked in New Orleans’ favor. We must take this opportunity while we have it and soon; God-willing before the next massive storm comes our way.
Stay tuned for the next blog on New Orleans’ energy efficiency potential and the “whole house” approach.
*Among the signatories are Healthy Gulf (I’m a former staff member), Sierra Club (I’m a former Chair of the New Orleans Chapter), and I co-organized the New Orleans’ Step-Up climate event in 2008 with Presidential Primary Candidate John Edwards.