By Fred Shropshire
The public got a last chance to sound off on a deal that will allow a Duke Energy subsidiary to raise power rates Tuesday evening in Hillsborough.
The company wants a 4.5 percent increase that grows to 5.1 percent after two years.
A little more than two dozen demonstrators didn’t let a dreary drizzle dampen their message. They held signs and chanted against the rate increase. They called a proposed rate-hike audacious at best and greedy and environmentally harmful at worst.
“Protect us from the rapacious greed of Duke Energy,” said Chapel Hill resident Gary Wallick.
“Duke Energy wants to build more climate wrecking plants that we don’t need while holding back thousands of clean energy and weatherization jobs,” said Carrboro resident Steven Gear.
