The NC Court of Appeals is reviewing NC WARN’s case challenging a 2012 merger that created the nation’s largest electric utility.
NC WARN News Releases
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Will Duke’s Upcoming Solar Power Plan be Good for North Carolinians or Drive Rates Even Higher? — News Release from NC WARN
When might NC WARN – a vigorous promoter of solar power for many years – NOT support a plan to add solar to North Carolina rooftops? Answer: If Duke Energy’s upcoming solar proposal, previewed in April and due to be filed any day, is used cynically to mask – and amplify – its plans to keep building nuclear and fracking-gas plants, and to keep its coal giants running for decades.
Clean Power and Housing Advocates Seek Energy-Saving for Those Who Need it Most — News Release from NC WARN
Today NC WARN filed a proposal with state regulators that would cut power bills for thousands of customers, immediately create hundreds of jobs and boost local economies.
New Tax Hike on Electricity Should Lower Duke Energy’s Proposed Increase — News Release from NC WARN
Today, as part of the ongoing fight over a 5-6 percent average rate hike proposed by Duke Energy, NC WARN filed a motion calling for the NC Utilities Commission to consider the impacts of a new tax increase on electricity sales. The Tax Simplification and Reduction Act, signed into law on Tuesday, contains an electricity sales tax hike that represents the fourth sizeable increase on Duke customers in just four years.
Utilities Chair Deadbolts the Door on Duke Energy’s Backroom Deal — News Release from NC WARN
After a week of damaging revelations about millions in “erroneous” overcharges by Duke Energy, NC Utilities Commission Chairman Ed Finley severely limited the rate case trial at a crucial moment last Friday, and used a false statement to do it. By disallowing NC WARN from questioning a witness about key aspects of the backroom deal-making that led to a proposed settlement between Duke and the Commission’s Public Staff, Finley effectively prevented public scrutiny of the deal and the actions of the publicly-paid employees who made it.
Duke Energy’s Corporate Incompetence – or Fraud? — News Release from NC WARN
NC WARN charged today that either Duke Energy’s accountants are grossly incompetent or the corporation has deliberately sought to improperly charge North Carolina customers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. NC WARN will press the NC Utilities Commission to penalize Duke millions of dollars for the attempted overcharges. The group will also call on the Commission to order its Public Staff not to secretly negotiate deals in future utility cases.
News coverage of the hearings:
Regulators Begin Hearings On Duke Rate Increase, WFAE
As regulators hear Duke rate case, advocacy groups cite corporate greed, News & Observer
2 from WNCN:
Duke Energy admits to more mistakes in rate hike case
Duke Energy faces accusations of overcharging customers
4 from the Charlotte Business Journal:
Group frustrated as Duke Energy rate hike hearing ends
Four agendas at play in Duke Energy’s NC rate hearing
Duke Energy witnesses defend propriety of most customer charges
NC WARN: Duke Energy should pay penalty for improper charges
4 from the Charlotte Observer:
Duke Energy defends rate charges, settlement
Duke Energy critic disputes rate charges
Duke Energy’s profit margin is questioned
Duke cites errors in rate filing
Burning the Public: Duke Energy’s Rate Secrets – Part 4 — News Release from NC WARN
Duke Energy is seeking to charge North Carolina customers up to $120 million a year to pay for laid-off employees, vacant offices and other phantom expenses. A proposed settlement in the rate case does not remedy this blatant overcharging, so NC WARN will call on state regulators to reject it when evidentiary hearings begin on July 8.
Burning the Public, Part 3: NC WARN seeks millions in penalties for Duke Energy — News Release from NC WARN
NC WARN is calling for state regulators to assess millions of dollars in damages against Duke Energy Carolinas for what the watchdog group says are “egregious and pervasive” violations in the utility’s current rate case. Economist Bill Marcus of Sacramento-based JBS Energy, Inc. [states]: “Disallowance of the expense is clearly not enough. If it was not for NC WARN, the utility could have gotten away with this flagrant abuse from the highest levels of the company for years.”
Duke Energy sought to overcharge customers by $211 million per year — News Release from NC WARN
Statement from Greenpeace, AARP NC and NC WARN. The state agency that supposedly represents North Carolina electricity customers has cut a deal with Duke Energy to settle a controversial rate hike request. The NC Utilities Commission’s Public Staff announced the deal today before even considering evidence being prepared by public interest groups, businesses and local governments – and before public hearings set for Winston-Salem, Charlotte and Hillsborough.
Burning the Public: Duke Energy’s Rate Secrets – Part 2 — News Release from NC WARN
Each year, Duke Energy charges North Carolina ratepayers for money poured onto groups representing both major political parties at the federal and state levels, according to documents obtained by NC WARN during the discovery phase of Duke’s current rate hike request. Second installment of our Burning the Public series.