U-37394

The provided excerpts do not identify specific "areas of growth" within the docket for the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association (SLECA) case. The excerpts primarily discuss procedural developments, such as motions, depositions, service lists, and abandonment petitions related to electric facilities in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. There is no direct reference to economic, service, or infrastructural areas of growth or associated key considerations within the available material.

The financial and timeline risks and concerns discussed in this docket are:

Financial Risks and Concerns:
- The estimated cost to rebuild the lake lines is approximately $38 million, which would be required solely to serve about 282 recreational camp meters. This equates to about $1,580 per meter per month over seven years, compared to historical costs of $29.50 per meter per month over seven years after Hurricane Andrew. These costs are considered inequitable and unsustainable for the cooperative’s approximately 21,000 members, and would violate regulatory principles of cost causation, rate equity, and financial prudence 1.
- There is a lack of a sufficient revenue base and diseconomies of scale, meaning that even segmenting the project or “cherry-picking” certain clusters of camps would still result in prohibitively high costs for either affected camp owners or the cooperative’s full membership 2.
- The decision not to reconstruct the lines was described as unavoidable due to these financial concerns, with both SLECA and at least one intervenor agreeing that reconstruction is not justified under regulatory scrutiny 2.
- Intervenors argue that the loss of electricity has led to decreased property values, reduced ability to sell camps, additional ongoing expenses for fuel, generator maintenance, replacement of power sources, increased risk of bodily injury, and negative impacts on local economic activity and municipal revenue 3.

Timeline Risks and Concerns:
- The sheer volume of procedural requirements, including answering dozens of data requests (some with multiple embedded questions), meeting deadlines, and providing affidavits can be overwhelming and intimidating for many intervenors, especially those who are retired, elderly, or not technologically proficient. For example, one intervenor reported receiving 19 emails within a 90-minute period and 37 data requests in a single day 4.
- The docket also highlights delays and additional administrative burdens created by the need for late interventions, document requests, depositions, and ongoing legal motions, contributing to a complex and lengthy process 4.

In summary, the financial risks center on the high, unsustainable cost of rebuilding the lake lines for a small customer base, while timeline risks involve procedural complexity and the burden placed on intervenors during the regulatory process.

The main stakeholders in Louisiana Public Service Commission Docket No. U-37394 regarding the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association (SLECA) petition to abandon electric facilities in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes are:

- South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association (SLECA): The petitioner, seeking approval to abandon certain electric facilities. SLECA argues that reconstructing the "lake lines" is economically and technically unjustified and that continued service is not in the public interest due to costs and feasibility 1, 2.

- Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) and Staff: The regulatory authority overseeing the proceeding, responsible for reviewing SLECA’s petition and ensuring a fair process. The staff presents recommendations and manages procedural issues 3, 3.

- Intervenors (including affected property owners, camp owners, and groups such as Action Charters LLC):
- Many intervenors oppose SLECA’s proposal to abandon service. They argue that SLECA’s removal of infrastructure was improper, that members were misled about restoration prospects, and that abandonment causes significant personal and financial harm 4, 5, 6.
- Named intervenors include members of the Guidroz family, Steve Richard, Philip Richard, and others representing impacted camps and properties. Individual objections and testimonies highlight loss of property value, lifestyle disruption, and dissatisfaction with SLECA’s handling of communication and restoration 6, 5.
- Some intervenors failed to comply with procedural requirements and may have their status converted to "interested party," with reduced participation rights 7, 8.

- Other Affected SLECA Members: While not all members are intervenors, the broader membership is a stakeholder because restoring service to the lake lines would require cost-sharing by approximately 21,367 members, most of whom would not directly benefit 1, 3.

Positions:
- SLECA and its leadership are for abandonment of the specified facilities and argue against restoration.
- Most intervenors (camp owners and property owners in the affected areas) are against SLECA’s proposal and advocate for restoration or compensation.
- LPSC staff remains neutral, tasked with regulatory oversight, fact-finding, and legal compliance.

In summary:
- For abandonment: SLECA management.
- Against abandonment: Intervenors (affected property/camp owners).
- Neutral/oversight: LPSC and its staff.

Key events and deadlines in the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association (SLECA) abandonment proceeding (Docket No. U-37394) are as follows:

- September 25, 2024: SLECA filed its petition for approval of proposed abandonment with the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC).
- September 27, 2024: Notice of the proceeding was published in the commission’s official bulletin, starting a 15-day intervention period.
- October 14, 2024: Deadline for timely intervention in the proceeding.
- October 16, 2024: LPSC held a business and executive open session in Buras, Louisiana, though this specific matter was not on the agenda.
- December 10, 2024: Tribunal issued a report of status conference establishing the initial procedural schedule.
- February 21, 2025: Deadline for SLECA to file direct testimony.
- May 9, 2025: Deadline for commission staff and intervenors to file direct testimony and/or comments.
- June 6, 2025: Deadline for commission staff and intervenors to file cross-answering testimony and/or comments.
- June 9, 2025: Blaise and Erica Pellegrin filed a request for late intervention.
- July 7, 2025: SLECA received responses from intervenors about non-party witnesses to be called at the hearing.
- July 9, 2025: Deadline for SLECA to file rebuttal testimony; tribunal continued the procedural schedule without date and set a status conference for August 4, 2025.
- July 18, 2025: Deadline for all discovery. Motion filed to upset the procedural schedule and request a new status conference.
- July 25, 2025: Deadline to file dispositive motions.
- August 4, 2025: Status conference scheduled to discuss pending issues and establish a new procedural schedule.
- August 5, 2025: Deadline to file the pre-hearing statement.
- August 15, 2025: Deadline to file pre-hearing briefs.
- August 25–29, 2025: Scheduled hearing dates (subject to rescheduling due to upset procedural schedule).

Additionally, at least seventy late intervention requests were granted without objection prior to February 21, 2025. The Pellegrins’ and other late intervention requests after that date were denied due to lack of good cause and objections by SLECA 1, 1, 2.

Louisiana Public Service Commission Docket No. U-37394 concerns the South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association (SLECA) petitioning for approval to abandon certain electric facilities in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes. The request is made pursuant to the Commission’s General Order R-30301, dated July 9, 2008. SLECA is a Louisiana electric cooperative serving several parishes and seeks formal authorization for this abandonment from the Commission. The docket also includes motions related to discovery and party status for participants in the proceeding 1, 2.