|
NEW ORLEANS - Today, Council President and Utilities Committee Chair Helena Moreno announced new accountability and oversight measures that will be taken up at the Wednesday, September 22 Utilities Committee Meeting. Moreno will author a series of new steps focused on getting answers and accountability on behalf of the people of New Orleans, many tens of thousands of whom sat in the dark and heat for more than a week after Hurricane Ida's exit from our area.
Among the Moreno-sponsored measures is a full investigation of the power, generation, and transmission failures that led to the Hurricane Ida blackout; a new study on retail competition and utility ownership in New Orleans; a management audit of Entergy New Orleans' operations; and filing complaints to the Public Service Commission and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about transmission infrastructure failures.
"While we are still assessing the damage from Hurricane Ida, this much is clear — we need to do everything in our authority to reform our power delivery system, build clean resiliency into everything we do, and hold Entergy accountable to limit the damage to our community from future storms," said Council President Moreno. "We need to know the answers to important questions about how Entergy's system truly performed and further, what reforms we must make to create a more sustainable, affordable future for New Orleanians."
Council President Moreno is also sponsoring legislation to suspend any rate changes during this difficult time.
The Utilities, Cable, Telecom, and Technology Committee Meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 22, at 10:30 AM. The public can watch the meeting live on council.nola.gov or attend in person while adhering to required COVID-19 protocols.
|