NEW ORLEANS, LA - On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee held a meeting to discuss a resolution to revise the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) rules regarding distributed energy resources (DER), as well as a resolution to establish a procedural schedule for the 2027 IRP. The committee also received two presentations from Entergy New Orleans (ENO) as well as the Port of New Orleans and the New Orleans Law Department.
IRP Rulemaking Resolution
The committee discussed and voted on an IRP Rulemaking Resolution, which updates the Council's IRP Rules to better account for DERs such as customer-sited generation, energy storage, distributed generation, and demand response.
Specifically, it revises the rules governing how ENO considers DERs in its future resource planning and the Demand Side Management (DSM) Potential Study. The changes are intended to reflect technological and market developments since the rules were adopted in 2017, while allowing for more detailed studies of DERs, non-wires alternatives, transmission, distribution, and grid reliability in future IRP proceedings.
It's important to note that ENO's separate requests concerning customer registration through aggregators and a Market Valued Demand Response tariff will be addressed at a later date.
2027 IRP Initiating Resolution
The committee also discussed and voted on a resolution to establish a procedural schedule for the 2027 IRP Plan. Specifically, it establishes the 2027 Triennial IRP process for ENO by creating Docket UD-26-02 and setting the schedule for stakeholder participation, technical meetings, public engagement, discovery, and ENO's final IRP filing in January 2028.
The resolution also directs ENO to incorporate key Council policies into its planning, including: Energy Smart efficiency goals, the Renewable and Clean Portfolio Standard, and analysis of DERs and their role in grid reliability and sustainability.
The resolution also requires continued reporting on ENO's progress toward integrated distribution planning, establishes requirements for the IRP's scorecard and DSM Potential Study, and provides opportunities for intervenors and the public to participate throughout the process.
Presentation from ENO on Recent Storm Impacts
Representatives from ENO presented to the committee on the company's response to the severe thunderstorm on August 21, 2026, and the resulting power outages. The storm brought high winds, quarter-size hail, and lightning to New Orleans, including a reported 68 mph wind gust at Lakefront Airport.
Approximately 14,600 customers were impacted, with outages peaking at roughly 10,000 customers around 7:45 p.m. ENO deployed 144 employees and contractors to assess damage and restore service.
ENO reported that restoration began shortly after weather conditions cleared up, with 70% of affected customers restored by 2 a.m. on August 22 and approximately 90% restored by 8 a.m. Restoration continued through the day, with the remaining customers in Plum Orchard and Algiers restored by 4:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.
ENO reported that most customers in several affected areas had their service restored within an hour, and that outage and damage figures are still under further analysis.
Additionally, ENO reported that many affected customers may have received inaccurate outage notifications and apologized for the occurrence. ENO claimed the error in its notification service was due to a glitch, and the company is actively investigating what caused the issue and will take steps to remedy it in the future.
While the committee acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the communications systems glitch and that this severe storm appeared with little warning, they stressed that ENO must increase its responsiveness and reliability, especially during hurricane season.
To view the full presentation, click here.
Uptown Railroad Quiet Zone Updates
The committee provided updates regarding the Uptown Railroad Quiet Zone, though representatives from both the Port of New Orleans and the New Orleans Law Department were not in attendance.
District A has been working on the Uptown Railroad Quiet Zone for approximately three years, but has faced delays due to holdups in the court's review and handling of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA). District A has requested several updates since the beginning of the year but has received little feedback on the process.
Additionally, an administration representative attended and assured the committee and the public that the City has followed the processes correctly and that it has been 198 days waiting for this CEA to be processed in court. However, a redline draft was issued this morning following pressure from District A. That redline draft is now under review.
The committee is eager to see this CEA progress and will do everything in its power to move forward with the Uptown Railroad Quiet Zone as quickly as possible.