NEW ORLEANS — Entergy New Orleans says it will pay a $5 million fine and work on extra training for its employees and the New Orleans city council utility committee said it will not do a re-vote on the controversial New Orleans East power plant that was embroiled in a scandal where actors were paid for appearances on the plant’s behalf.
The revelations came at a city council committee meeting that concerned a resolution that binds Entergy to certain benchmarks.
Reports and social media indicated that the crowd on hand was very unhappy that the council would not be re-voting on the plant.
Residents could be heard chanting 'No gas plant' and 'Do your job' in Council chambers.
During the meeting Thursday, Entergy New Orleans’ CEO said the company would make the $5 million payment, provide ethics training, reduce power outages and work to protect costs to customers.
But for the New Orleans East residents there calling for a new vote, that wasn't enough.
"It’s Valentine’s Day and Entergy got a sweetheart deal,” Monique Harden said at the podium.
Public comment lasted for about three-and-a-half hours before the utility committee voted to wait for the full council to vote.