If it gets a 5.6% rate increase it requested from the Louisiana Public Service Commission, energy company Entergy Louisiana hopes to provide residents with better services during emergencies.
“We want to build a more resilient system so that we can have those customers back on in days instead of weeks,” Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana, told WWL’s Newell Normand this week.
Entergy Louisiana serves many communities in the state, but not New Orleans itself.
Previously, WWL reported on the potential rate hike intended to pay for system upgrades. This requested hike comes as members the Public Service Commission called for an investigation into how Entergy is spending its revenue.
“What we’re looking for to do with in conjunction with the Louisiana Public Service Commission is have a slight rate increase but enable us to make those investments to improve the reliability of the grid,” May explained.
Customers would pay around $6.75 more per month if it is eventually approved. May said that increase won’t come to fruition until at least next September, at the earliest. Now that the filing is in, the commission is set to begin a year-long process to review it.
“It’s a very intense and thorough review of the books and records of the company,” May said. This filing also includes a request for Entergy’s Future Ready Resilience plan.
In the case that the commission grants the rate increase request, the new rates would be in place for a minimum of three years.
Listen to May and Normand’s conversation here to learn more about the potential rate hike and grid improvements.