Legislative auditor’s electric-profile report and winter storm review highlight high usage and improved grid resilience

Staff presented the Legislative Auditor’s informational report on Louisiana’s electric profile and summarized how the grid performed during a January winter storm. The auditor’s report—compiled using U.S. Energy Information Administration data—shows Louisiana has among the highest per‑capita electricity consumption rates, driven by large industrial loads and a high share of electric heating; staff noted that when heating fuel is included Louisiana’s average household expenditures rank lower nationally.

Staff described reliability metrics where Louisiana’s frequency and duration of outages exceed national averages for the southern region and discussed resilience investments the commission has pursued. Commissioners and staff emphasized recent winterization work utilities completed after the 2020–21 storms and noted the improved performance this winter: Entergy, Cleco and SWEPCO reported limited peak outages and quick restoration times, attributing better outcomes to winterization investments such as heat tracing, insulation upgrades and additional generation commitment.

Commissioners discussed staffing and funding constraints at the commission, the potential need to revisit fee structures to retain expertise, and the importance of continued vegetation management and data collection to improve outage response. The commission accepted staff’s presentation and recognized utilities’ communication efforts during the event.