Tagged: utilities

The state's public utilities commission has decided to conduct an investigative hearing on the power outages that plagued Louisiana for days after Hurricane Isaac lashed the state with wind-driven rains.

Commissioner Eric Skrmetta said Wednesday it was the duty of the Public Service Commission to ask hard questions of the utility companies after more than 900,000 residents were left without electricity.

He said the utility companies performed well at restoring power to consumers once the storm had abated but he had questions about their pre-storm response.

The pool of candidates seeking an open seat on the state's utility regulatory agency, the Public Service Commission, has gotten smaller.

Republican candidate Ed Roy, a private investigator and former TV and radio weatherman from Lafayette, said Friday that he has withdrawn from the race. He said he dropped out of the contest because of difficulties raising enough money to run a competitive campaign.

Five other candidates remain in the race for the south central Louisiana seat left open by retiring commissioner Jimmy Field.

Although Hurricane Isaac blew out electricity for the entire New Orleans metro area, do we collectively understand what it means to be powerless? For too many residents, neither Isaac nor Entergy will prevent electricity from returning; powerlessness will. The silver lining to our temporary blackout should be that it illuminated our awareness to the day-to-day conditions of the poor in New Orleans. 

J. Wayne Leonard will retire Jan. 31 as chairman and chief executive officer of Entergy Corp., the parent company of major electric providers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

The corporation also announced Wednesday that Leo Denault, currently executive vice president and chief financial officer, will succeed Leonard.

Andrew Marsh, currently vice president for system planning, will succeed Denault.