Today NC WARN sent a second letter to Governor McCrory, following up on the letter we and AARP NC sent on January 4. We are calling on him to oppose Senate Bill 10 and to recuse himself from appointments to the NC Utilities Commission.
Duke/Kochs' Control of Government
Duke Energy and others in the energy industry consistently use deceptive public relations – and millions of customer dollars – to distort the debate over important decisions. Duke’s control over NC state government is significant. We must face this “inconvenient truth” in order to make the shift to clean, safe energy. This corporate influence has, in the words of Dr. James Hansen, wounded our democracy.
Particularly egregious are efforts by Duke, the Koch brothers and other industry powers to slow the growth of solar energy and, in North Carolina, to prevent competition from third-party providers of no-upfront-cost solar deals that put solar energy within reach of many more homeowners and businesses. Another good example of corporate power is the passage in some states of Construction Work in Progress laws that allow utilities to charge customers in advance for building expensive new plants that aren’t even needed.
In 2015, Duke Energy, the Koch Brothers and others successfully kept the Energy Freedom bill bottled up in committee at the NC legislature. The bill would have opened up NC to third-party solar deals. Read about our 2015 Duke Hates Solar campaign in support of the bill.
Read about our Solar Freedom project at Faith Community Church in Greensboro — a test case in the state’s ban on third-party sales of electricity.
Direct Appeals for Dialogue with Duke Energy
NC WARN has repeatedly reached out to Duke Energy executives, seeking to collaborate with them on moving away from obstructionism and toward a clean energy future. A few examples are listed here.
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Watchdog group wants probe of Duke Energy negotiations – Charlotte Business Journal
Environmental watchdog group NC WARN wants North Carolina’s attorney general to investigate whether Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers improperly negotiated directly with N.C. Utilities Commission Chairman Ed Finley to settle the commission’s inquiry into Duke’s $32 billion purchase of Progress Energy.
Did Duke CEO and Top Regulator Break the Law by Cutting Deal on Merger Scandal? – News Release from NC WARN
Last week the Charlotte Observer published an interview in which Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers said he had resolved the major scandal following his acquisition of Progress Energy by personally negotiating the settlement with NC Utilities Commission Chairman Ed Finley. Today NC WARN called on state Attorney General Roy Cooper to investigate that negotiation, which we believe was an unlawful communication that led to a multi-billion dollar miscarriage of justice against North Carolina’s electricity customers.
Group claims Duke Energy’s talks with state regulators were improper – Charlotte Observer
A Durham advocacy group has asked attorney general Roy Cooper to investigate whether Duke Energy and the N.C. Utilities Commission engaged in illegal “backroom deal-making” during talks to settle the Duke-Progress Energy merger probe.
How Duke Energy can change the climate game — News & Observer
Op-Ed by Jim Warren. “The truth is that we have a planetary emergency.” – NASA climatologist James Hansen, October 2012
McCrory Could Re-shape NC Utilities Regulation – WFAE
Governor Pat McCrory has been busy in recent weeks filling his cabinet and top staff positions. And in at least three cases he’s appointed former colleagues from his 28 years working at Duke Energy. That’s led some to worry McCrory will follow the same pattern when he turns his attention to four impending vacancies at the North Carolina Utilities Commission, which is Duke Energy’s primary regulator in the state.
State groups urge McCrory on recusal from NC utilities commission appointments – News 14
Two state groups are urging Governor-elect Pat McCrory to recuse himself from appointing members to the NC Utilities Commission. AARP of North Carolina and NC WARN, an energy watchdog group, claim there is a conflict of interest because McCrory worked for Duke Energy for nearly three decades.
Governor’s recusal sought due to Duke Energy career
Today AARP NC and NC WARN sent the following letter urging incoming Governor McCrory to recuse himself from making several upcoming appointments to the NC Utilities Commission due to his unprecedented conflict of interest – having worked for Duke Energy for 28 years.
Reject Duke-Progress political pay-offs, watchdogs tell regulators – News Release from NC WARN
NC WARN calls out Progress Energy for charging political pay-offs to customers via an accounting fiction. Millions to influence politicians should be rejected in rate case, says watchdog group.
Has Duke Energy Been Cheating on Rate Hikes? – News Release from NC WARN
Controversial rate hikes by Duke Energy Carolinas in 2009 and 2011 revealed a pattern of activity apparently designed to overcharge North Carolina electricity customers millions of dollars annually, energy watchdog group NC WARN said today. The group said Duke is either deliberately attempting to gouge ratepayers or suffers gross incompetence across its legal and accounting departments. It urged Attorney General Roy Cooper to take action.
See NC WARN’s letter to Attorney General Cooper and Public Staff’s Robert Gruber