Joint Climate Change, and Utility Committee Meeting

The New Orleans City Council held a joint meeting of the Climate Change and Utility Committee on April 17, 2026, focusing primarily on the Distributed Energy Resource (DER) program and the Neighborhood Power Plan. The council reviewed the implementation plan filed by Entergy for a battery energy storage pilot program designed to support local energy resilience through virtual power plants. Key procurement-related discussions included upfront and ongoing incentive levels for residential and commercial customers, with a 40% set aside for low and moderate income (LMI) households. The council approved a resolution to extend the discovery period to gather more information on proposed incentive adjustments and directed Entergy to submit a supplemental implementation plan by May 26, 2026. Public comments emphasized the need for adequate incentives to ensure affordability and accessibility, especially for low-income residents, and highlighted the importance of consumer protections and equitable program design. Additionally, the council addressed procedural matters related to ex parte communications and unanimously approved two arbitration appeal resolutions from the Sewage and Water Board. The meeting concluded with motions passed to advance these items to the full council for consideration.