Greene will not seek re-election to the Louisiana Public Service Commission

Wesley Muller
| The Illuminator

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Dr. Craig Greene, announced on June 19 that he will not seek re-election once his term expires at the end of the year.

Greene, a moderate Republican in a district that includes Lafayette, Houma and parts of Baton Rouge, is in his eighth year on what is one of the most powerful oversight boards in the state.

The Public Service Commission regulates utilities, such as Entergy Louisiana, CLECO and Atmos Energy, and has major influence over how electricity and other forms of energy are generated and sold to customers.

Greene himself has significant influence as the only moderate on the five-member panel, consisting of three Republicans and two Democrats. His vote is often the deciding factor in the resulting contested cases that routinely pit Louisiana residents against utility companies.

“When you know, you know,” Greene said in a news release. “For nearly a decade, I have worked hard to monitor our utilities and hold them accountable to keep prices affordable for the many families in our community who are struggling to make ends meet. I have had the opportunity to meet amazing people, help those in need and participate in compelling debates that will have a generational impact.”

Greene works full-time as an orthopedic surgeon in Baton Rouge. The members of the Public Service Commission meet once a month, but continually receive calls, complaints and requests from their constituents. They must also keep track of project proposals and rate applications from utility companies.

In his statement, Greene said he will spend the extra time doing activities with his family and caring for his patients. He credited his father, former Sen. Thomas Greene, as a defining influence during his political career.

“Years ago, my father taught me the importance of citizen representation in our system of government,” Greene said. “He believed so strongly in citizen representation because he served in the Senate for eight years and then voluntarily stepped aside and chose not to seek re-election. When I end my current term with the PSC in January, I will also have served for eight years. I think it’s appropriate to follow my father’s lesson and step aside to let someone else try.”

Greene won a special election in 2017 to fill an unexpired term on the Public Service Commission and was re-elected to a full term in 2018.

– The Louisiana reliever is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization driven by its mission to shed light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they impact the lives of everyday Louisianans, especially those who are poor or otherwise marginalized.