The Sound of Silence – Utility Companies Keeping Money-Saving Opportunities In Shadows

(Newswire.net — October 29, 2014) Mandeville, LA — Forest Wright, candidate for the Louisiana Public Service Commission, District 1 today said major utility companies have been ineffective in communicating with consumers about a new policy that begins October 1 that has the potential to save consumers money on their energy bills. 

“A consumer-friendly policy that consumers don’t know about isn’t a policy at all,” Wright said. 

On October 1, despite the fierce opposition of Commissioner Skrmetta, power companies in Louisiana have been ordered by the Public Service Commission to start offering incentives for consumers who wish to make upgrades to their homes and properties that will increase energy efficiency and lower monthly power bills for all ratepayers.  However, utility companies in the state have been willfully negligent in letting their customers know about this opportunity. 

“Monthly utility bills are one of the biggest expenses for families across Louisiana,” said Wright on Monday. “Yet my opponent sought to overturn the very programs that would reduce our utility bills and create jobs for our economy to protect monopoly utilities making profits off the backs of working people. Big Utility has a moral obligation to let their customers know about opportunities to save money that could be going toward school supplies, medical expenses, or securing a more stable financial future.”

A seasoned energy policy expert, Wright played a lead role in the development of these incentives, which lower monthly bills and increase property values for ratepayers by offsetting the initial investment. 

Wright continued, “This is a rare truly win/win situation.  Ratepayers save money every month and the economy gets an injection of good jobs. If utility companies aren’t spreading the word that their customers can take advantage of savings, the question has to be asked. ‘Why?’  As regulated monopolies, these utility companies exist to serve the public, but they are serving their bottom line instead. When they are denied information and access to these cost saving energy efficiency programs, customers are harmed. ” 

Wright said the utility companies should be aggressively promoting the new policy. 

“This isn’t rocket science. Utility locating companies should be putting notices in their bills about the new policy at the very least,” Wright said. “It should be in television commercials, on the radio and press releases should be sent to the media. What we hear from the big utility companies now is the sound of silence.” 

Utiliity scale energy efficiency programs have saved ratepayers millions of dollars in New Orleans and Arkansas, the model for Louisiana’s program, while also creating a new industry for contractors whose work adds property value to homes and businesses. 

Forest Wright has built a career as a policy expert and small business owner.  Known as a champion for emerging industry and a fierce protector of consumer rights, Forest has worked on the front lines to bring more options and lower costs to Louisiana’s working families and businesses.   

Among his many career successes, Forest Wright has launched workforce development training and incentive programs that reward customers for saving energy to reduce their monthly utility bills and promote economic growth.  Wright holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Tulane University, where he met his wife Julia.