Amid consumer complaints about high electricity bills and poor customer service, the Public Service Commission is considering ways to reform the industry in Louisiana.
One of them is opening the market to competition.
"I think competition breeds excellence and can get rid of complacency," said Public Service Commissioner Craig Greene. "Now what we have to answer is: how that could go wrong? We don't want to have rolling blackouts. We don't want it to be more expensive. So we have to prioritize reliability and affordability, but I don't see why we can't discuss what competition would look like for us."
Greene says the heads of the utility companies in Louisiana know about this idea. According to Greene, those companies are pooh-poohing the idea.
"I get along well with the executives, but what I try to tell them is that I'm going to check your homework," Greene said. "You're telling me this is going to be bad for Louisiana. I'm not going to just take your word for it. I want to understand why and test the hypothesis of what this other model."
Now, Greene has opened a docket at the Public Service Commission so the public can comment on the possibility of competition in the electricity market.
"People feel frustrated and angry when they don't have a voice and they don't have a choice," Greene said. "You look at other areas of your life where you have a cell phone bill you can pick. There are companies fighting over your business. Oftentimes with monopolies, they kind of get in their way of doing things and they don't have to really answer to the customers.
"I think I owe it to our consumers and our voters to say: is there a better way?"
Greene also said the power companies have an opportunity to show that the current model is the only one that's feasable.
"If y'all are right that this is the best possible way for Louisiana, well then this is your chance to prove it to us in a public forum," Green said.
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