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Eric Skrmetta
2009 - Present
2026
16
Eric Skrmetta (Republican Party) is a member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, representing District 1. He assumed office on January 1, 2009. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Skrmetta (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Louisiana Public Service Commission to represent District 1. He won in the general election on December 5, 2020.
Skrmetta was elected by his fellow elected commissioners to serve as chairman in January of 2013, replacing former chair Foster Campbell (D).[1]
Skrmetta was an at-large delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Louisiana. Skrmetta was one of 18 delegates from Louisiana bound by state party rules to support Donald Trump at the convention.[2] As of July 13, 2016, Trump had approximately 1,542 delegates. The winner of the Republican nomination needed the support of 1,237 delegates. Trump formally won the nomination on July 19, 2016.
Biography
Skrmetta has been a practicing attorney since 1985, and a practicing mediator since 1989. He is active in Republican State Central Committee District 81, along with numerous community, civic and religious organizations.[3]
Education
- Graduate, Brother Martin High School
- B.S., Louisiana State University (1981)
- J.D., Southern University Law School (1985)
- LLM, Tulane University Law School (1986)[4]
Political career
Louisiana Public Service Commission (2009-present)
Skrmetta has represented District 1 on the Louisiana Public Service Commission since 2009. He was elected commission chairman by the five elected members of the commission in January of 2013.[1]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
Elections
2020
See also: Louisiana Public Service Commission election, 2020
Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
General election
General election for Louisiana Public Service Commission District 1
Incumbent Eric Skrmetta defeated Allen Borne Jr. in the general election for Louisiana Public Service Commission District 1 on December 5, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Eric Skrmetta (R) | 61.8 | 55,987 |
 | Allen Borne Jr. (D) | 38.2 | 34,639 | |
| Total votes: 90,626 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Louisiana Public Service Commission District 1
The following candidates ran in the primary for Louisiana Public Service Commission District 1 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Eric Skrmetta (R) | 31.3 | 134,900 |
| ✔ | | Allen Borne Jr. (D) | 24.9 | 107,174 |
 | J. Kevin Pearson (R) | 14.0 | 60,189 | |
 | John Mason (R) | 13.4 | 57,652 | |
| Richard Sanderson II (R) | 8.2 | 35,502 | ||
| John Schwegmann (Independent) | 5.5 | 23,707 | ||
 | William Boartfield Jr. (G) | 2.8 | 11,890 | |
| Total votes: 431,014 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
Skrmetta ran for re-election to his seat on the Public Service Commission, representing District 1 in 2014. The election took place November 4, 2014, though Skrmetta and Forest Wright could not win 50 percent of the vote total. Both candidates advanced to a general election on December 6, with Skrmetta winning another term in office.
Results
General election
| Public Service Commissioner of Louisiana, District 1 General Election, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Eric Skrmetta Incumbent |
50.8% | 120,032 | |
| Republican | Forest Wright | 49.2% | 116,042 | |
| Total Votes | 236,074 | |||
| Election results via Louisiana Secretary of State Vote totals above are unofficial and reflect 100% precincts reporting. | ||||
Primary
| Public Service Commissioner of Louisiana, District 1, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Forest Wright |
38.4% | 99,515 | |
| Republican | Eric Skrmetta Incumbent |
37% | 95,742 | |
| Republican | Allen "Al" Leone | 24.6% | 63,622 | |
| Total Votes | 258,879 | |||
| Election results via Louisiana Secretary of State | ||||
Race background
Ethics concerns for Skrmetta
The Times-Picayune published a report on August 5, 2014, detailing an email exchange between Commissioner Skrmetta and Andrew B. Ezell from the Gulf State Renewable Energies Industry Association. This exchange reportedly included a request by Skrmetta for the organization's support ahead of the November election in exchange for his vote in support of more lenient metering policies in Louisiana. Ezell sent the request to members of the association on August 2, only four days prior to commission hearings about lifting the state's limit on payments to consumers using solar panels.[5]
Skrmetta denied wrongdoing or an exchange of favors with solar energy firms following the paper's report. He noted in The Times-Picayune that the commission needed to review metering policy due to concerns about the potential bankruptcy of an unnamed solar firm based in the state. He faced criticism from challenger Forest Wright (R) and fellow commissioner Foster Campbell (D), though ultimately won re-election in the December general election.
Wright, an energy policy advocate based in New Orleans, cited Skrmetta's email as a motivation for his 2014 campaign. Wright and Skrmetta supported lighter regulations on solar installation firms, though Wright was concerned about the alleged quid pro quo involved in Skrmetta's email. He previously sought the District 2 seat on the board in 2012. Campbell, who won re-election to the District 5 seat, was vocal in opposing changes to existing metering policy and alleged that Skrmetta's behavior was "borderline illegal."[5][6]
Issues background
 |
| Energy policy is a major issue in Louisiana. To learn more, see "Energy policy in Louisiana." |
Net metering
Net metering is a billing system where customers who generate their own electricity, usually using renewable sources, such as solar panels, are able to sell their excess electricity back to the grid. This requires electricity to be able to flow both to and from the consumer. According to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency "net metering is required by law in most U.S. states, but state policies vary widely."[7] In some states, consumers generating excess power are compensated at the full retail rate, while other states compensate individual producers at the wholesale rate. Retail electricity rates are the final prices paid by consumers and include the all the costs of that electricity, from generation to delivery. Wholesale electricity rates "include the cost of the fuel used to generate electricity and the cost of buying the power," but do not include the costs of transporting or delivering electricity.[8]
- Proponents of net metering argue the system is beneficial because it promotes renewable energy and incentivizes consumers to produce their own electricity, which they argue is more efficient. Consumers are often drawn to this program because they can save money by generating their own electricity (as opposed to buying it from a utility company), and they can even receive credit back on their electricity bill for the excess electricity they generated.[9]
- Opponents of net metering argue that customers who sell their electricity back to the grid at the full electricity price are not paying for the fixed costs associated with power generation, such as wires, poles, meters and other infrastructure. According to these opponents, consumers producing their own energy are often still using power supplied by a utility company when their own generation isn't sufficient. For example, on cloudy days those with solar panels must rely on the grid system for electricity. Instead, opponents argue that consumers should be paid the wholesale price for electricity.[8]
In Louisiana, the commercial, residential and agricultural sectors can utilize net metering for solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, small hydroelectric, renewable fuel cells, geothermal electric and microturbines. Utilities in Louisiana pay the full retail rate for electricity generated from net metering, but once net metering purchases exceed 0.5 percent of a utility's retail peak load they no longer have to offer net metering.[10] Entergy, which serves approximately 1.07 million electric customers in Louisiana, had already reached 75 percent of its 0.5 percent cap on net metering purchases by February 28, 2014.[11][12]
Endorsements
Skrmetta earned the endorsements of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the state Republican Party and the Louisiana Sheriff's Organization prior to the November election.[13] Wright received the endorsement of primary candidate Allen "Al" Leone (R) ahead of the general election.[14]
Commission as launching pad
The Louisiana Public Service Commission has served as a stepping stone to higher office in Louisiana. The following chart details past commissioners who eventually won election to the governor's office:[15][16]
| Former commissioners who became governors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Party | Commission service | Gubernatorial service |
| Huey Long |  Democratic |
1918-1928 | 1928-1932 |
| Jimmie Davis | Democratic |
1942-1944 | 1944-1948, 1960-1964 |
| John McKeithen | Democratic |
1955-1964 | 1964-1972 |
| Kathleen Blanco | Democratic |
1989-1996 | 2004-2008 |
2008
Skrmetta won election to Louisiana Public Service Commission District 1 on November 4, 2008.[17]
| Louisiana Public Service Commission, District 1, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Eric Skrmetta |
59.8% | 222,272 | |
| No Party Affiliation | John F. Schwegmann | 40.2% | 149,227 | |
| Total Votes | 371,499 | |||
| Election results via Louisiana Secretary of State | ||||
Campaign themes
2020
Eric Skrmetta did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
2016 Republican National Convention
Skrmetta was an at-large delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Louisiana. He was bound by state party rules to support Donald Trump at the convention.[18]
Delegate rules
At-large and congressional district delegates from Louisiana to the 2016 Republican National Convention were elected at the Louisiana Republican Party State Convention. 2016 Louisiana GOP bylaws required district-level and at-large delegates to support the candidate to whom they were allocated through the first round of voting at the national convention. The rules stated that if a candidate "ends or suspends" his or her campaign, the delegates allocated to him or her are no longer bound. Because of Louisiana GOP allocation rules, two at-large delegates were allowed to be elected as uncommitted delegates.
Louisiana Primary results
- See also: Presidential election in Louisiana, 2016
| Louisiana Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
| Jeb Bush | 0.7% | 2,145 | 0 | |
| Ben Carson | 1.5% | 4,544 | 0 | |
| Chris Christie | 0.1% | 401 | 0 | |
| Tim Cook | 0.1% | 219 | 0 | |
| Ted Cruz | 37.8% | 113,968 | 18 | |
| Carly Fiorina | 0.1% | 243 | 0 | |
| Lindsey Graham | 0.1% | 152 | 0 | |
| Mike Huckabee | 0.2% | 645 | 0 | |
| John Kasich | 6.4% | 19,359 | 0 | |
| Peter Messina | 0% | 48 | 0 | |
| Rand Paul | 0.2% | 670 | 0 | |
| Marco Rubio | 11.2% | 33,813 | 0 | |
| Rick Santorum | 0.1% | 180 | 0 | |
| Donald Trump |
41.4% | 124,854 | 25 | |
| Totals | 301,241 | 43 | ||
| Source: Louisiana Secretary of State and The New York Times | ||||
Delegate allocation
Louisiana had 46 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, 18 were district-level delegates (three for each of the state's six congressional districts). District delegates were allocated proportionally in accordance with the vote in a given district.[19][20]
Of the remaining 29 delegates, 25 served at large. At-large delegates were allocated proportionally; a candidate had to win at least 20 percent of the statewide vote in order to be eligible to receive any of the state's at-large delegates. In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention. The RNC delegates were not required to pledge their support to the winner of the state's primary.[19][20][21]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Skrmetta and his wife, Debbie, have two children.[22]
See also
2020 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Louisiana Public Service Commission District 1 |
Officeholder Louisiana Public Service Commission District 1 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nola.com, "Eric Skrmetta elected chairman of Louisiana Public Service Commission," January 31, 2013
- ↑ LA GOP, "Louisiana Republicans Elect National Convention Delegates," March 14, 2016
- ↑ Louisiana Public Service Commission, " Commissioner Eric Skrmetta," accessed March 22, 2013
- ↑ Louisiana Public Service Commission, "Commissioner District 1," accessed January 30, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Times-Picayune, "Email controversy ensnares Public Service Commission Chair Eric Skrmetta, solar proposal," August 5, 2014
- ↑ The Advocate, "Solar compromise offered," August 15, 2014
- ↑ Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, "Glossary," accessed October 22, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Edison Electric Institute, "Straight Talk About Net Metering," September 2013
- ↑ Solar Energy industries Alliance, "Net Metering," accessed October 22, 2014
- ↑ Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, "Louisiana Net Metering," October 19, 2014
- ↑ Entergy, "Net Metering for Renewable Energy Resources," accessed October 22, 2014
- ↑ Entergy, "About Us," accessed October 22, 2014
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, "Industry group backs Eric Skrmetta for Public Service Commission," September 15, 2014
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, "Public Service Commission candidate Forest Wright picks up endorsement from former rival Al Leone," November 10, 2014
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, "Public Service Commission finally getting interesting: Jeremy Alford," August 26, 2014
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Find Results and Statistics," accessed September 18, 2014
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Results for Election Date: 11/4/2008," accessed March 26, 2013
- ↑ LA GOP, "Louisiana Republicans Elect National Convention Delegates," March 14, 2016
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016
- ↑ Louisiana GOP, "Rules for convening of the state convention to elect delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention," accessed April 26, 2016
- ↑ Facebook, "Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, LPSC," accessed September 22, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Louisiana Public Service Commission District 1 2009-Present |
Succeeded by - |
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State of Louisiana Baton Rouge (capital) |
|---|---|
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