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Keith Gates
Keith Gates was a Republican candidate for District 5 of the Louisiana Public Service Commission in the 2014 elections.[1]
Gates ran against two-term incumbent Foster Campbell (D) in 2014. His campaign was focused on improving utility service and lowering rates. Jump to the campaign themes section for his campaign's priorities. Keith Gates lost the general election on November 4, 2014.
Biography
Gates opened the Gates Law Firm in May 2012, after four years as an attorney with Mahtook & Lafleur and Cause of Action. He is also a city prosecutor with the Winnfield City Prosecutor's Office.[2]
Education
- Graduate, Lakeview High School
- B.S., business administration, Northwestern State University
- Bachelor's degree, civil law, Louisiana State University
- J.D., Louisiana State University[2]
Elections
2014
Gates ran for election to the District 5 seat on the Public Service Commission in 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Results
| Public Service Commissioner of Louisiana, District 5, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Foster Campbell Incumbent |
61.5% | 169,098 | |
| Republican | Keith Gates | 38.5% | 105,918 | |
| Total Votes | 275,016 | |||
| 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.[3]
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."[3][4]
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."[5] 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.[6]
- 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.[7]
- 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.[6]
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.[8] 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.[9][10]
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.[11] Wright received the endorsement of primary candidate Allen "Al" Leone (R) ahead of the general election.[12]
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:[13][14]
| 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 |
Campaign themes
2014
Gates' campaign website listed the following themes for the 2014 race:
| “ |
Lower Rates Why should you be paying more? I'll work to keep money in your pocket book. Better Service Even with my commitment to lower rates, there's no reason you should sacrifice better service. Straight Talk It shouldn't require an interpreter to understand your utility rates. I'll give it to you straight. [15] |
” |
| —Keith Gates' campaign website, (2014) | ||
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Keith + Gates + Louisiana + Public + Service + Commission + elections"
See also
- Louisiana down ballot state executive elections, 2014
- Louisiana Public Service Commission
- Public Service Commissioner
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Search for Candidates," accessed August 21, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 LinkedIn, "J. Keith Gates," accessed September 22, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 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
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Keith Gates for Public Service Commission, "Home," accessed September 22, 2014
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