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My legal background will help me navigate complex rate case procedures. My mediation skills will help me strike a balance between utilities and consumers. My administrative skills, managing a $600 million budget and 3,000 employees, will help me complete long-term infrastructure planning, storm-hardening investments, and rate structures that affect every household. As for my goals, I have published a 12-point plan on how I intend to protect ratepayers while keeping the grid strong and resilient. Go to electjohnyoung.com/12-point-plan to learn more.
Balancing the needs of consumers and utilities is central to the Public Service Commission’s work. I will evaluate cases using measurable factors to protect both sides. I will scrutinize rate requests to ensure we pay only what is justified. I will ensure utilities maintain infrastructure that can withstand storms, heat, and freezing, and that aging equipment is replaced. I will prioritize investments that reduce outages and speed up restoration. Utilities deserve a fair but not excessive rate of return to support modernization and storm hardening. I will rely on independent studies and expert analysis to determine what is appropriate. I will conduct town meetings to keep the public informed and ensure transparency.
Renewables such as wind and solar are not reliable every day. To keep rates affordable and the grid reliable, we need a balanced portfolio built around what actually works for our climate, our economy, and our people. I support a diversified mix that includes natural gas for affordability and stability, solar, wind and even biofuel innovation. But I believe the future is going to be in the further development of SMRs (small nuclear reactors) which offer 24/7 carbon free power, small footprints, and the ability to serve industrial sites, military bases, and growing data center demand. They solve the intermittency problem that wind and solar can’t fix in Louisiana’s climate.
In a state hit by hurricanes regularly, storm hardening isn’t a luxury; it’s a duty. The PSC must require utilities to build a stronger grid, so families stay safe, businesses stay open, and ratepayers aren’t stuck paying for the same damage over and over again. Our job is not to say “yes” to every upgrade, and it’s not to say “no” to every cost. Our job is to determine what is truly necessary, what is cost effective, and what will meaningfully improve reliability without placing an unfair burden on families and small businesses. Storm hardening is essential, but it must be targeted, justified, and tied to measurable improvements. Ratepayers should never have to pay for upgrades that don’t deliver real value.
Clean water isn’t guaranteed without active, disciplined regulations. While the PSC doesn’t oversee every system, it does regulate many distressed ones and now has the authority to appoint a receiver when a system can’t meet basic standards. Some small systems simply lack the resources to survive on their own, so regional partnerships should be encouraged when they improve quality and reduce costs. I will work closely with water providers to ensure they have the equipment and technical support needed for timely repairs, while aggressively pursuing state and federal funding to fix aging systems without burdening consumers. My goal is simple: keep water safe, keep systems functioning, and keep monthly bills as low as possible.
High‑speed broadband is being pushed out faster than at any point in U.S. history, and it’s happening because governments are treating broadband like essential infrastructure, the same way we treat roads, water, and electricity. The $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program provides funding to every state to build high‑speed internet in unserved and underserved areas. We have made good use of it here in Louisiana. States must create detailed plans, map coverage gaps, and partner with providers to build out networks. This is the largest broadband investment in American history. My job is to make sure Louisiana gets its fair share, builds smart, and keeps costs down for the people who need it most.
Utility companies nationwide face major pressures from extreme weather, aging infrastructure, and rising industrial demand. These challenges require careful oversight to ensure spending is justified and cost effective. Meeting constant power needs, such as those required by data driven industries, depends on a balanced energy mix, including natural gas for current reliability and small modular nuclear reactors for long term capacity. A significant concern in utility regulation is open access deregulation, which can create fragmented systems, raise consumer costs, and reduce reliability. Texas’s deregulated electricity market illustrates these risks, with higher bills and severe outages reported during events such as the 2021 winter storm.
