PSC hopefuls open to change
by Mark Ballard - Advocate (excerpt)

The six candidates for utility regulator representing the Baton Rouge and Lafayette region said in separate interviews that they are open to consider lowering the profit guaranteed to electric companies.

All the candidates for the Louisiana Public Service Commission agreed that the guaranteed profit margin, called “return on equity” or ROE should not be unilaterally lowered. But they said changes in financial markets necessitates investigation.

Four Republicans, one Democrat and one person running without party affiliation are vying to replace retiring PSC Commissioner Jimmy Field, of Baton Rouge. The election is set for Nov. 6. A runoff between the top two vote-getters, if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, is scheduled Dec. 8.