Grayson Walsh, a staff member in the office of Commissioner Jean Paul Cuson at the Louisiana Public Service Commission, told the Terrebonne Parish Council on Oct. 29 that the commission’s energy-efficiency grant program will pay to upgrade lighting and other building systems at public entities.

“The program helps local governments, schools, and any other public facilities,” Walsh said, adding that selected projects can receive upgrades “100% free of cost.” He described a scoring process for applications and said his office will work with local applicants and contractors through the application steps.

Mary Elizabeth Bowyer, a colleague in Cuson’s office, said the program is funded through ratepayer dollars allocated by the commission and is intended to improve safety and reduce bills for ratepayers. She cited recent completion walks in Lafourche Parish and told the council a contractor reported savings of about $800 a month at one recently upgraded location.

Council members asked about eligibility and process. Mister Amadeen asked whether the PSC regulates residential solar; Walsh said the PSC does not directly regulate residential solar and that answers on solar depend on whether the project involves the utility or third parties. Miss Kim Chauvin and Mister Hamner pressed on application difficulty and competitiveness; Walsh said contractors who regularly apply can help and offered to provide sample applications and contractor contacts.

Walsh said the office expects the 2026 application deadline to be Jan. 31 and encouraged parish staff and council members to contact his office for follow-up. “If you have any questions or anything that comes up in the future, please do not hesitate to reach out to us,” he said.

The presentation emphasized that the program targets public entities, including government buildings, schools, fire stations and 9‑1‑1 centers, and that contractors typically perform the technical work and submit applications in partnership with local governments. Walsh said the office aims to distribute money across parishes and typically tries to give each parish at least one project when funding allows.