New Orleans City Council Joint Climate Change and Sustainability Committee Meeting

Date: June 30, 2026

The joint committee (Climate Change and Sustainability with Public Works) met to discuss critical energy and infrastructure issues, including a resolution on consolidated billing for community solar, persistent power outages in District E, and the performance of the Entergy and Sewage & Water Board systems during Tropical Storm Arthur. Public testimony was passionate and urgent. Councilmembers expressed deep frustration and demanded accountability, transparency, and accelerated action.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Representatives from Together New Orleans and Sisters of the Holy Family (community solar project): Expressed full support for consolidated billing and urged no delay beyond December 2026; warned that further delays would cost their project $730,000 in tax credits.
• Deborah Salvador (speaking for low-to-middle-income households): Stressed that dual billing would be a major burden for the target population, especially those without bank accounts or reliable transportation.
• Daniel Weil (software developer): Argued that technical implementation could be done in a month or less, calling Entergy’s 8–14 month estimate “absurd.”
• Mary Ellen Burns: Quoted Ben Franklin to oppose delays, stating they harm the most vulnerable.
• Harold John (Together New Orleans): Called for a win for citizens after recent losses.
• Barrington Gidney (pastor, District A): Said Entergy’s stalling imposes financial burdens on residents; urged immediate action.
• John Christopher Brown (homeowner): Supported community solar for resilience, low-income relief, and climate mitigation.
• Becky Merriweather: Accused Entergy of bullying and blackmail; asked council to stand up for residents.
• Rev. Jeff Connor (TNO): Said delays deny residents lower bills and increase project costs.
• Wendy Beck (Deep South Center for Environmental Justice): Strongly supported speedy adoption of consolidated billing.
• Jesse George (Alliance for Affordable Energy): Supported consolidation but raised concerns about cost controls and the resolution not being publicly posted.
• Monique Gerhardt (Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association): Cited financial challenges from repeated delays and urged quick action.
• Online comment from Dr. Beverly Wright (Deep South Center for Environmental Justice): Urged consolidated billing within a reasonable time and cost.

Discussion Items

1. Consolidated Billing Resolution

• Councilmember McCarron introduced the resolution as the final step in eight years of work to require Entergy to implement net credited consolidated billing for community solar, allowing subscribers to see savings on one bill.
• Entergy’s Keith Wood explained that the council had not previously adopted rules for consolidated billing; new rules were issued the day before. Entergy estimated 8–14 months for implementation depending on final rule conformance.
• Councilmember Harris expressed frustration at Entergy’s ability to move quickly on infrastructure but slowly on community programs; she called for weekly meetings to accelerate implementation.
• Councilmembers agreed to vote on the resolution at a future council meeting, with a commitment to expedite.

2. District E Power Outages

• Entergy reported 82 outages in District E in June, 25 from Tropical Storm Arthur. Recurring outages in the Kenilworth and North Kenilworth neighborhoods (underground grid) were due to transformer connection failures.
• Councilmember Hughes voiced extreme frustration, noting repeated failures without proactive maintenance. He demanded a formal plan and monthly appearances before the council until the issues are resolved.
• Council President Morrell emphasized the distinction between reliability (already paid for via rates) and resilience (new projects). He stated that poor reliability undermines the council’s willingness to approve resilience spending.
• Councilmember Green acknowledged some pole replacements but asked for better public communication and quarterly community meetings with Entergy.
• Councilmember Harris pressed for real-time outage notifications for events affecting fewer than 500 customers; Entergy agreed to explore text alerts.

3. Tropical Storm Arthur – Entergy and Sewage & Water Board Joint Presentation

• Entergy reported 6,700 customers affected, all restored within 24 hours; no new resilient structures were damaged.
• Key issue: Voltage sags on the transmission grid caused the Sewage & Water Board’s new static frequency changers to trip offline on June 18 (72% voltage sag) and on May 20 (40% sag), temporarily halting drainage pumping in Lakeview.
• Sewage & Water Board adjusted trip settings from 80% to 70% after June 18 and is working with the manufacturer to lower further.
• Both organizations agreed to jointly hire a third-party expert (PCS 2000) to evaluate settings and grid performance.
• Councilmembers pressed for direct accountability. Sewage & Water Board acknowledged responsibility for equipment settings but noted voltage sags are common; Entergy stated its Sullivan substation never lost power and that sensitive equipment settings were the issue.
• Councilmembers expressed concern about lack of transparency, particularly regarding the May 20 event, which was not disclosed until after June 18.
• Sewage & Water Board noted that only one backup turbine (turbine 6) was available during Arthur; turbine 7 is now operational, providing 20 megawatts of backup.
• Council President Morrell warned that after August 1, the council will have enhanced regulatory authority over Sewage & Water Board and will demand transparency.

4. Decatur Street Construction Update

• Sewage & Water Board’s Stephen Yang explained the French Quarter street project originally scheduled for March 2025 but started August 2025 due to Mardi Gras, Super Bowl, and high river levels. Multiple blocks opened simultaneously to meet FEMA reimbursement deadlines.
• Delays included archaeological findings (about one month). Expected completion: mid-to-late September 2026.
• Councilmember King asked about expediting; cost estimated at $5,000–$10,000 per day, not reimbursable by FEMA.

5. Water Main Break and Street Collapse in New Orleans East (District E)

• Temporary repair completed for water main break at Chateau Carmel apartments; permanent repair requires specialized parts and advance notification to residents (3–7 days). Sewage & Water Board committed to coordinating door-to-door notifications with Councilmember Hughes’ team.
• Street collapse at 1100 block of Winchester due to a subsurface drainage issue. Councilmember Hughes noted the problem was known for over a year; Sewage & Water Board said it was first aware in April 2026. A CCTV inspection of the sewer line is needed before repairs begin.
• Director committed to making the repair a top priority; Councilmember Hughes demanded weekly updates if not resolved quickly.

Key Outcomes

• The consolidated billing resolution will proceed to a vote at a future council meeting; weekly meetings with Entergy will aim to shorten the implementation timeline.
• Councilmember Hughes directed Entergy to provide monthly reports on District E reliability improvements until he is satisfied.
• Entergy and Sewage & Water Board will retain a third-party expert to analyze voltage sag issues and recommend settings; results expected within one month.
• Sewage & Water Board committed to notifying residents in advance of the permanent water main repair and to expedite the street collapse repair, with possible weekly council updates if delayed.
• Decatur Street project expected to be completed by mid-September 2026.
• Council President Morrell reiterated that after August 1, the council will exercise new legislative authority over Sewage & Water Board, expecting immediate transparency and accountability.