BATON ROUGE — A new state task force dedicated to coordinating utility assistance held its inaugural meeting at the Capitol on Wednesday.

Created under Senate Resolution No. 148, authored by State Sen. Regina Barrow, the task force brings together lawmakers, state and regional agencies, and major energy providers. Members include Barrow, State Sen. Robert Allain, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, and representatives from Entergy, Cleco Power, Southwestern Electric Power, Atmos Energy, Delta North Louisiana Gas and South Louisiana Gas.

"One of the reasons Sen. Barrow and I worked to create this task force is finding ways to ensure that our utilities, community action partners, our federal dollars, and state dollars are working together to make sure that people can afford their bills," Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis said.

During the meeting, the group reviewed current energy assistance programs in Louisiana and other states while discussing ways to better coordinate available resources.

Officials from the Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC), which serves on the task force, emphasized an urgent need for more local community action agencies to help distribute federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to eligible residents.

Lauren Holmes, LHC's Energy Assistance Administrator, told the task force that a shortage of local partners has forced her staff to coordinate administering benefits across the state. Holmes added that one community action agency has been forced to cover multiple parishes. 

"We are currently administering Pointe Coupee in-house with my staff. That is because the community action agency that was overseeing Pointe Coupee in addition to their parish decided it was too much work," Holmes said. "We put out a [request for proposal], and there was no response."

Beyond streamlining access to both public and private utility assistance resources, the task force aims to create a central verification process for program eligibility. Members also plan to focus on home improvements, such as weatherization, to reduce overall energy usage and lower monthly bills long-term.

"If I'm working with a utility who can provide funding to fix a roof, then the state agency can also provide you with the installation. Then, we can work to get you the heating and cooling assistance," Lewis said. "That means, not only have we served your temporary crisis of not being able to afford your bill, we're also helping you with the long-term solution of making sure your bill stays affordable."

The task force is scheduled to meet again in mid-October and must submit a report on its findings by March 1, 2027.