Protesters demonstrate against proposed Duke rate hike

Energy Biz ^ | 6/11/13 | John Hinton Winston

[EBH]

'The company looks forward to a positive and constructive resolution in this rate case," Duke Energy said in a statement.

Duke Energy, the corporate parent of both Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, has defended its rate-increase requests as allowing it to recover billions of dollars invested in upgrading its ability to generate power and complying with state and federal environmental regulations.

At the courthouse rally, protesters held signs such as "Affordable Energy is a Right" and "Not One More Dime, Duke."

Tony Ndege, a member of Occupy Winston-Salem, told the demonstrators that every resident has a right to inexpensive, environmentally safe energy.

"Our rights stand in the way of their profits," he said.

Kim Porter of Winston-Salem, a member of the N.C. Waste Awareness Reduction Network (WARN), said that North Carolinians will not compromise their health and safety "so Duke can make outrageous profits."

The company will use the money from the rate increase to pay for its new plants that "we don't need and we don't want," Porter said.

[yorkiemom]

The company will use the money from the rate increase to pay for its new plants that "we don't need and we don't want," Porter said.

Don't want? If they voted for 'we will destroy the coal industry' Obama and Biden, then they wanted this. Replacing coal power plants with gas turbine or nuclear ones costs money. And the power generated costs more money per MW than with a coal plant.

These protestors are likely the ones that voted for this. BTW, there is no constitutional right to cheap energy in the constitution.

[yorkiemom]

Obama said his plans would cause rates to skyrocket.

That's right. To necessarily skyrocket.

[listenhillary]

Germany has let the loons run wild with their energy policy.

I think they are now paying $.33 per KWH and the poor are freezing to death in the winter.

Will it be our future?

[yorkiemom]

Once again, we are following in Europe’s footsteps.

Insanity, isn’t it?