As many Louisianans are plagued with high energy bills, District Four Public Service Commissioner Mike Francis will face two opponents in his bid for a second six-year term. Francis said he is often asked what he can do to help lower power bills and hurricane restoration charges.
“The federal government is controlling a lot of the price of our fuels and it’s really hurting our electricity bill and I’ll tell you I’m going to do everything I can to keep those numbers reasonable,” said Francis.
Francis said the PSC can only do so much when it comes to regulating private energy companies that also have to pay stockholders dividends.
“If you want to lower your electric bill by taking money away from us the stockholders of Entergy, you need to understand from who’s pocket is it coming out of? It’s coming out of the pockets of people who have bought those shares,” said Francis.
Entergy said 2020 hurricane restoration efforts in Louisiana totaled $4.1 billion and that cost will be paid for by customers over a 15-year period. Francis said the commission has asked the utility provider to pay for even a portion of those charges.
“We’re waiting for some response from Entergy on possibly lowering their electric bill because of their actions like that,” said Francis.
Francis will face Keith C. Bodin of Ragley who is running as an independent and Republican Shalon Latour of Iowa in November.