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Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 146
BY SENATOR DUPLESSIS
A RESOLUTION
To create and provide for the Utility Consumer Advocate Study Group to explore the
establishment of a utility consumer advocate office to act as a residential ratepayer
advocate that would operate independently from the regulatory commissions.
WHEREAS, forty states and the District of Columbia have established and provided
funding for utility consumer advocates to represent utility consumers; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has a bifurcated system with the City Council of New Orleans
and the Louisiana Public Service Commission which provides regulatory oversight of the
utility companies located in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, both regulatory bodies are faced with the challenge of regulatory
balance of ensuring just and reasonable rates, while allowing utility companies the
opportunity to earn a fair rate of return on their investment; and
WHEREAS, competing interests of different classes of consumers and the utility
companies require representation independent of any regulatory body; and
WHEREAS, industrial and commercial consumers have legal counsel to represent
their best interests before state and federal regulatory bodies and throughout the judicial
process if necessary; and
WHEREAS, residential consumers find it difficult to pool their resources and secure
independent legal counsel to represent their best interests before state and federal regulatory
bodies and throughout the judicial process if necessary; and
WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to explore the possibility of establishing a utility
consumer advocate to represent the best interests of the residential class who represent a
majority of utility consumers.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
hereby creates the Utility Consumer Advocate Study Group to explore the establishment of
a utility consumer advocate office to act as a residential ratepayer advocate which would
operate independently from the regulatory commissions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group created herein shall consist of SR NO. 146 ENROLLED
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the following members:
(1) The chair of the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International
Affairs Committee, or the chair's designee, who shall serve as chair of the study committee.
(2) The attorney general or his designee.
(3) The executive secretary of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, or the
secretary's designee.
(4) The chair of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, or the chair's designee.
(5) The mayor of New Orleans, or the mayor's designee.
(6) The chair of the New Orleans City Council Utilities Committee, or the chair's
designee.
(7) A representative of AARP.
(8) A representative of the Alliance for Affordable Energy.
(9) A representative of the Sierra Club, Delta Chapter.
(10) The director of the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency, or the director's
designee.
(11) A representative of Louisiana Budget Project.
(12) A representative selected by the investor-owned utility companies operating
within Louisiana.
(13) A representative of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives, Inc.
(14) A representative of the National Federation of Independent Business.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair of the Commerce, Consumer
Protection, and International Affairs Committee shall convene the first meeting of the study
group no later than October 1, 2010.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all departments, boards, agencies, officers, and
institutions of the state and all subdivisions thereof shall cooperate with the study group in
providing information to assist the study group to carry out its mission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group shall make a written report of
its findings to the Senate of the Louisiana Legislature by April 1, 2011.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE