Website: JesseTThompson.com
Ranked Choice:
Companies should be allowed to build larger plants, even if that will cause rate increases for individual residents in the short term.
Neutral
We should invest more in sustainable energy (i.e. wind and solar power).
Strongly Agree
Individuals should have more choices in their utilities, rather than getting stuck with a company because of a monopoly.
Strongly Agree
The Public Service Commission adequately educates consumers on issues relating to public utility, common carrier, and “Do Not Call” regulations.
Strongly Disagree
Louisiana’s utility infrastructure is ready to handle major weather disasters, like hurricanes and flooding.
Strongly Disagree
Short Answer:
How should the Public Service Commission balance protecting consumers and protecting the profits of utility companies?
Balancing the needs of utility companies should be something the PSC should try to do. The utility companies are certainly needed and should be fairly and reasonably (fiscally) protected, but not at the expense of overburdening the ratepayer. Bigger is not always better and the PSC should keep its focus on what is best for consumers instead of fostering larger profits for regulated monopoly utilities just because the utility says so. The PSC should balance consumer protection by creating a fair, competitive environment, while relaxing regulation when appropriate. The PSC was created to look after the interests of the public and consumers should always be more important than any profit of the utility company. “Just & Fair” should be determined by the public, not only by the private utilities. Self-generation of residential solar with net metering is one of several customer centered options which should be allowed.
District 3 includes much of the area deemed “Cancer Alley.”
How do you view the Public Service Commissions responsibility to residents of this area?
The PSC has absolute authority and the responsibility when it comes to the welfare of the public in matters related to public water & wastewater, certain electrical intrastate transmission & generation, pipelines and material transports, and many things our industrial neighbors rely on to receive and convert materials to product then transport its products out. The PSC has the responsibility to look after the public’s interests and what is best for the welfare of the public -especially for health & safety on matters within its authority. This is one of the biggest can kickings of the interpreters of our government over the last 50 years or so. I live in Cancer Alley in Iberville; I have a backyard water well I can no longer drink from & recently had to shelter in place (34 hrs) due to a chlorine release; industry made contaminants are in our community’s public drinking water source. My view is clear on responsibility of the health, safety, and the welfare of our community public.
What should voters consider when choosing their Public Service Commissioner?
Qualifications & Moral Philosophy: As a self-employed LA Professional Civil Engineer with relevant education and 20+ years relevant work experience with essential public utilities much of what the PSC is tasked to regulate, I have the relevant background and problem solver skillsets to best serve the public as our next Commissioner. Engineer Creed: To protect the public welfare and do what is in betterment of the community public. I have 50 years of life experience to know that everybody is someone and we should do what’s right simply because its the right thing to do. It is important that we elect someone who understands the role of the PSC and the responsibility of protecting the public welfare, one that has the necessary background and can effectively regulate for the betterment of our community. Someone who aligns well with most people and is for what is “just & fair” for the public, one that will look after the public’s interest and holds the welfare of the public most important.
Would you like to clarify any of your ranked choice responses.
Simple Engineering Economics: Economies of scale & affordability should be considered; a bigger plant may be more cost-effective but may not be affordable for the ratepayer …as well as the opposite. Build the best bang for the (affordable) public buck.
Sustainable Energy: We need a Plan B readily available that includes diversity in our energy sources.
Customer Options: Net-metering solar for starters; relax regulation at times when its good for consumers.
Utility Infrastructure: It took months to get permanent power & safe drinking water restored to Grand Isle after IDA. The PSC may not regulate municipally owned utilities, but our public utilities of water, sewer, gas, telecom, and electric are not sustainable to storms in many areas & need improvement. Many drainage utility systems are non-existent, inadequate, or do not work as intended. Still today, electrical outages are routine, our homes flood, and pipelines & utility systems are damaged by major weather.