Program Authorization: La. Constitution, Article IV, Sec. 21

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the District Offices Program is to provide accessibility and information to the public on regulation as it applies to the services provided the consumer.

The goals of the District Offices Program are:

1. Provide effective and efficient services in the shortest time frame.
2. Provide a good educational campaign explaining to the public about the Public Service Commission.
3. Shorten the time frame on handling consumer complaints.

Public Service Commission district offices are located in each of the five Public Service Commission Districts. These include:

• District 1 - Mandeville, with a sub-office in Harahan
• District 2 - Baton Rouge, with a sub-office in Lafayette
• District 3 - New Orleans, with a sub-office in Baton Rouge
• District 4 - Eunice, with sub-offices in Lake Charles and Pineville
• District 5 - Shreveport, with a sub-office in Monroe

District offices provide accessibility and information to the public whereby complaints can be handled, meetings with consumer groups and regulated companies can be handled much faster, and rules, regulations, and state and federal laws can be administered at a local level. District offices are the administrative locale for each public service commissioner and personal staff. While geographic in nature, these offices serve as the hub of activities affecting parishes falling in the respective district, which, in turn, affect statewide decisions. These offices provide ready access to the public for receipt of complaints, either in person or by telephone, and resolution at the district level. All complaints received are recorded and individually investigated to assure that all parties involved are aware of the problem, given an opportunity to provide input, and informed of the outcome.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Unless otherwise indicated, all objectives are to be accomplished during or by the end of FY 1999-2000. Performance indicators are made up of two parts: name and value. The indicator name describes what is being measured. The indicator value is the numeric value or level achieved within a given measurement period. For budgeting purposes, performance indicator values are shown for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and alternative funding scenarios (continuation budget level and Executive Budget recommendation level) for the ensuing fiscal year (the fiscal year of the budget document).

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded from Statutory Dedications generated from inspection and supervision fees paid by public utilities. Additionally, various fees such as fines, filing fees, I.D. stamps, rehearing applications, registration fees, etc. are collected by the Public Service Commission for administering this program. (Per R.S. 39:32B.(8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each Statutory Dedicated Fund.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 102.5% of the existing operating budget. It represents 88.4% of the total request ($1,963,639) for this program. The net increase is due primarily to the transfer of the enforcement position.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

OTHER CHARGES

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

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