Five Republicans are jockeying to replace Eric Skrmetta on the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the low-profile but powerful regulator that signs off on utility rates and oversees power, gas, water and telecom in the region. District 1, which covers parts of New Orleans and a surrounding 10-parish area, is open because Skrmetta is term-limited after three six-year terms. Wallace “Wayne” Cooper, state Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, John “Big John” Mason, state Rep. Mark Wright and former Jefferson Parish President John Young shared a WDSU “Hot Seat” stage this week as the race barrels toward a partisan primary next Saturday.
Who’s in the running
The five Republicans on the District 1 ballot are Wallace “Wayne” Cooper, Stephanie Hilferty, John “Big John” Mason, Mark Wright and John Young, according to BallotReady. As reported by WDSU, all five appeared together in a televised “Hot Seat” forum, where they sparred over utility rates, the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board and rising demand from data centers.
What the PSC does and why it matters
The Louisiana Public Service Commission is a five-member, constitutionally established agency that regulates utilities and common carriers, including decisions on rate increases and major infrastructure projects, according to the LPSC. That authority directly affects what shows up on monthly bills and how the state navigates issues such as new power hookups for data centers, grid hardening after severe storms and resilience spending, experts note. The Alliance for Affordable Energy also outlines how the 2026 closed-primary calendar reshapes the path to a PSC seat and why voters might want to look up from their power bills long enough to notice who is running.
Where candidates differ
On the WDSU stage, the candidates leaned into different résumés and reputations. John Young highlighted his experience steering Jefferson Parish through storms and overseeing a nearly $660 million budget and 3,000 employees, while Rep. Stephanie Hilferty pointed to her work on Sewerage & Water Board reforms and pledged to press for more transparency, as WDSU reported. “Big John” Mason stressed his record pushing billing fixes for New Orleans customers, and Mark Wright cast himself as a conservative with transportation and infrastructure experience. Voters should also know there is a Democratic option in the wings: Connie Norris is listed as the Democratic nominee for District 1, according to WBRZ.
What to watch next
Early voting is already underway in many parishes, and the partisan primary is set for next Saturday. If no candidate in a primary clears a majority, the top two move on to a June runoff, and those winners advance to the November general election, per the Alliance for Affordable Energy. BallotReady lists the District 1 contest and provides tools to find polling places and early-voting windows. With utility bills and data-center hookups front and center in this fight, the May vote could influence how Louisiana pays for new power generation and, ultimately, who winds up footing the bill.
