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Power of the people? Hundreds voice opposition to rate hike (17%-Duke Energy & environmental rules)
McDowell News ^ | 10/26/11 | Mike Conley

Posted on 10/29/2011 6:02:15 AM PDT by Libloather

Power of the people? Hundreds voice opposition to rate hike
By: Mike Conley
Published: October 26, 2011

Hundreds of people packed the main courtroom at the McDowell County Courthouse to capacity Tuesday evening to show their strong opposition to Duke Energy’s request for another rate hike.

Donna Edwards of Marion was one of those who testified to the N.C. Utilities Commission.

“I don’t represent anybody except myself,” she said in her testimony. “We’re making choices in my house about whether or not to buy medications or pay the power bill. I am all for Duke Power making money. That is what they are there for. But not at the cost of everyday people.”

The vast majority of the people who spoke Tuesday evening before the state Utilities Commission voiced their “vehement opposition” to the proposed rate hike, which could be 17.4 percent for residential customers and between 12.8 and 14.7 percent for business and industrial customers.

**SNIP**

In a news release, Duke Energy stated that approximately three-fourths of the request is driven by capital investments the company made in the Carolinas’ electric system over the past two years to modernize the system and comply with environmental rules. The company also stated it needs the rate increase for the day-to-day costs of running business.

(Excerpt) Read more at 2.mcdowellnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: duke; environment; hike; power
Environmental rules will end up killing how many humans?
1 posted on 10/29/2011 6:02:16 AM PDT by Libloather
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To: Libloather

Utilities have access to the cheapest natural gas in a decade.


2 posted on 10/29/2011 6:10:17 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

“Utilities have access to the cheapest natural gas in a decade.”

And the most expensive set of environmental regulations and mandates from the Federal, State and local governments ever.


3 posted on 10/29/2011 6:23:34 AM PDT by ModelBreaker
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Utilities have access to the cheapest natural gas in a decade.

Burning coal produces 45% of electricity while natural gas produces 24%. So cheap gas only goes so far, especially when someone is trying to kill the use of coal in power plants. Hard to use natural gas in a coal powered plant.

4 posted on 10/29/2011 6:58:46 AM PDT by Lockbox (`)
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To: Libloather

It doesn’t matter what you burn or use to generate electricity, whether it be coal, gas, hydro, or atoms, obama’s goal is to completely choke off the energy supply and bring it under the control of his government. Destroy the means of production so you can mold it to suit his purposes is the name of the game. Obama is a hardcore communist first, a muslim second. One you frame that perspective, the better you understand what he’s up to, and develop a plan to stop it.


5 posted on 10/29/2011 7:01:15 AM PDT by factoryrat (We are the producers, the creators. Grow it, mine it, build it.)
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To: Libloather
People shouldn't be storming Duke Power. They should be storming the EPA.

Duke Power is only complying with the EPA's ridiculous environmental orders. They really aren't the ones to blame.

6 posted on 10/29/2011 7:11:12 AM PDT by Gritty (Obama is not America's king. He doesn't believe he needs authority,only noble intentions-D. Limbaugh)
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To: Libloather

I wonder how many of the complainers voted for O’JackUpYourElectricityRates?


7 posted on 10/29/2011 8:07:24 AM PDT by moovova (Report my sarcastic, fear-mongering, hate-filled lies to www.AttackWatch.com by clicking HERE.)
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Do You Want FR To Survive?


Click The Starving Forum Skeleton To Donate

Then Support Your Forum

8 posted on 10/29/2011 8:17:37 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are here! What will you do?)
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To: Lockbox
I've been in the coal and heavy oil business since 1980. You are correct. A big coal unit, base loaded on eastern coal, would see a terrific de-rate if it were switched to gas. The conversion wouldn't be difficult but it would lose about 20 percent of its steam (and power production) capacity since gas is lower BTU.
I'm not sure this would be as traumatic for western sub-bituminous coal fired units. Many utility are co-fireing Gillette coal with nat gas to control NOX and related issues. They could go all gas if they had the pipeline capacity.
9 posted on 10/29/2011 2:57:20 PM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Libloather
Duke is having problem with some serious GREEN ENERGY cost overruns at a new plant in Indiana.

Mitch Daniels is quoted as telling Duke that "Of course, Green is costly" ~ which it is.

The folks OPPOSING DUKE on the rates, which will have to be increased to pay for the GREEN ENERGY technology are the same people on the left who are demanding Duke and others use that technology.

This is all Obama's fault. His peeps want Green but they refuse to pay for it.

10 posted on 11/13/2011 7:07:47 PM PST by muawiyah
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