Past Campaigns

Critics of the proposed merger between Progress Energy and Duke Energy urged state regulators Monday to hold another round of public hearings to explore alleged secrets and rumors about the utility merger that could sap the public benefits of the $26 billion deal.

FCAN (Florida Consumer Action Network) is backing environmental and consumer watchdog group NC WARN’s request filed Monday with the North Carolina Utilities Commission for a public hearing to review fresh concerns about the merger.

North Carolina’s utility-customer advocate says conditions federal regulators have placed on Duke Energy’s planned $26 billion purchase of Progress Energy will increase monitoring costs to the merged company and could lead to additional losses on power sales to wholesale power marketers.

An advocacy group has challenged Duke Energy’s plan to give large commercial and industrial customers a break on most of the 7.2 percent North Carolina rate hike granted in January.

After two do-overs, federal regulators granted conditional approval for the merger of Progress Energy and Duke Energy, clearing the way for the two companies to form one of the largest utilities in the country.

The N.C. Utilities Commission said Tuesday that it wants all merger paperwork submitted within a week to give itself several weeks to decide on the proposed mega-merger between Progress Energy and Duke Energy.