On Thursday, Duke Energy Florida (formerly Progress Energy) announced that the company would pull the plug on its future Levy Co. nuclear plant. And the money the company has been collecting from customers for years — and will continue to collect until 2018 — will go toward Duke Energy’s expenses and profits.
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Gangplank to a Warm Future — The New York Times
Op-Ed by Anthony Ingraffea. Many concerned about climate change, including President Obama, have embraced hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. In his recent climate speech, the president went so far as to lump gas with renewables as “clean energy.” As a longtime oil and gas engineer who helped develop shale fracking techniques for the Energy Department, I can assure you that this gas is not “clean.” Because of leaks of methane, the main component of natural gas, the gas extracted from shale deposits is not a “bridge” to a renewable energy future — it’s a gangplank to more warming and away from clean energy investments.
On Rooftops, a Rival for Utilities — The New York Times
For years, power companies have watched warily as solar panels have sprouted across the nation’s rooftops. Now, in almost panicked tones, they are fighting hard to slow the spread. Alarmed by what they say has become an existential threat to their business, utility companies are moving to roll back government incentives aimed at promoting solar energy and other renewable sources of power. At stake, the companies say, is nothing less than the future of the American electricity industry.
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.
Group frustrated as Duke Energy rate hike hearing ends — Charlotte Business Journal
Duke Energy admits to more mistakes in rate hike case — WNCN
NC WARN, has accused Duke Energy of “gross incompetence” or “corporate fraud.” The environmental justice group claims the nation’s largest utility company deliberately tried to defraud North Carolinians by submitting a rate hike proposal with expenses including corporate jet travel and political contributions.
Four agendas at play in Duke Energy’s NC rate hearing — Charlotte Business Journal
The principal players battling over Duke Energy Carolinas’ proposed 5.1% rate hike had significantly different ideas about what this week’s hearing before the N.C. Utilities Commission was about. For Duke, the hearing was about $3.8 billion in new costs it must cover. For the commission’s public staff, it was about the how the agency’s proposed rate settlement balances Duke’s needs with those of customers. For the N.C. attorney general’s office, the hearing was about what return on equity Duke will be allowed and whether customers can afford it. For watchdog group NC WARN, it was about whether Duke can be trusted to honestly report costs and whether regulators will police the utility.