Bayou Blog Putting Ratepayers First in New Orleans’ DER Future
Last week, Resilience New Orleans (RNO) submitted reply comments to the New Orleans City Council in Docket UD-24-02 regarding the development of a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) program. Our position is clear: New Orleans deserves a resilient, equitable, and cost-effective approach that puts the interests of local ratepayers first.
In our comments, we emphasized four key points:
- Avoid Unnecessary Bureaucracy– Rather than creating new administrative layers, we urge the Council to build on the proven success of Energy Smart, which already delivers energy efficiency and DER support efficiently and affordably.
- Use SERI Credits Wisely– SERI credits should directly benefit ratepayers, not be funneled to third-party developers. We’ve seen in the past how subsidies can be diverted with little return for everyday customers.
- Keep DERs Integrated with the Grid– While third-party participation is valuable, DER assets must remain coordinated with the utility to ensure grid stability and fair cost-sharing.
- Explore Smarter Funding Models– We support creative alternatives like a New Orleans Carbon Offset Fund and Time-of-Use pricing that incentivize better grid performance without burdening customers.
At RNO, our mission is to ensure that energy policy in New Orleans is sensible, resilient, and equitable. We believe the DER program has incredible potential—but only if it is designed with the intention to keep the community in mind.
You can read our full comments here or reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more.
Let’s keep working toward a cleaner, stronger, and fairer grid for everyone in New Orleans.