Climate and consumer advocates in North Carolina are recommending the creation of a new class of "large load" customers that would pay fees to support infrastructure and be allowed to bring their own renewable energy, instead of relying on Duke Energy’s resources.
Sue Sturgis
Affordability concerns are increasing the risk that political and regulatory pressure may make it harder for utilities to recover their costs from ratepayers.
By requiring a multibillion-dollar nuclear permit before a single coal plant can be retired, S730 would force North Carolinians to underwrite a $128 million annual "holding fee" for unreliable, 1960s-era coal plants, EDF warns.
Full quote from Brawley: "On the question of Commissioner Van der Vaart participating in the decision making, the way the commission rules are written, it's not a decision the commission makes. ...
"...The commissioner is allowed to participate in the decision making if none of the parties object. There were objections, it only requires one, so Commissioner Van der Vaart will not be participating in the decision making at this point."
North Carolina Utilities Commissioner Donald van der Vaart has been absent from the proceedings now underway on Duke Energy's carbon plan; today Chairman Brawley said he'd be excluded from taking part in the decision-making. He's the newest member, appointed by GOP State Treasurer Brad Briner.
The NC Supreme Court upheld a Duke Energy rate hike costing customers $129M – even as ethics questions swirled around two justices who voted for it. One's wife holds Duke stock. The other's father wrote the law that made the hike possible.
"The pause will increase the risk of a supply crunch that raises North Carolinians' bills," said Sean Gallagher, senior vice president of policy at the Solar Energy Industries Association.
The newest member of the NC Utilities Commission, anti-solar and pro-coal advocate Donald van der Vaart, hasn't been showing up for hearings on Duke Energy's carbon plan. Consequently, advocacy groups taking part in the proceedings have objected to his involvement in any decision-making.
"Substations are supposed to be among the more secured pieces of infrastructure out there, and the idea that nearly $591,000 in power could allegedly be diverted without immediate detection is the kind of thing that should concern anyone who pays an electric bill."
The NC Supreme Court upheld a Duke Energy rate even as ethics questions swirled around two justices who voted for it.
