Lee Buchanan
editor@thefranklinpress.com
Duke Energy’s proposal to increase rates met with a chilly reception at a Jan. 15 public hearing in Franklin.
The hearing, conducted by the N.C. Utilities Commission, was one of four held in the Duke Energy Carolinas coverage area and the only one in far-western North Carolina. Ten people testified, under oath, at the quasi-judicial hearing.
Duke Energy Carolinas filed an application with the utilities commission in September 2019 requesting a rate increase in order to produce an additional $445.3 million in revenue.
The average increase for residential customers would be about 6.7 percent. The proposal would add about $8.06 per month to the typical residential customer’s bill, according to the utilities commission.
Utilities commission chair Charlotte Mitchell summarized Duke’s proposal: “Duke states that recent work to modernize its electric system, generate cleaner power, efficiently restore service to customers after major storm damage, responsibly close coal ash basins and operate active plants, and continue to provide reliable, efficient, high-quality service to its North Carolina customers, has made it necessary to request a net base rate increase in its retail revenues.”
About 30 people attended the hearing at the Macon County Courthouse. Of the 10 speakers, three represented environmental groups, including two with the Center for Biological Diversity. The remainder were Duke customers from Franklin, Sylva, Hayesville and Saluda.
All were opposed to the proposed rate hike.
“I am a widow of a veteran, and I’m on a fixed income,” said Pat McGee of Franklin, holding her most recent bill. “I just cannot afford an increase in my electric bill.”
Several speakers objected to helping to foot the bill for Duke’s costly cleanup of coal ash pits.
“We shouldn’t have to pay for this stuff,” said Al Bernard of Franklin. “My wife is disabled. I’m 67 years old, and I still have to work. Her medicine is $1,100 a month. I just can’t afford a rate hike for something I shouldn’t have to pay for.”
Patricia Bailey also spoke about the coal ash cleanup.
“I came over the mountain tonight just to speak against this proposed rate increase,” she said. “I just retired, and I was sitting down making a budget when I received my bill for $111. I just wanted to say I’m concerned that a portion of this increase is being used to clean up coal ash pits. I think that should be totally separate. Residential customers like myself who are on a fixed income should not be required to pay for cleaning up those coal ash pits because that is a cost of doing business.
“I think this proposed rate increase is more than I can handle on a fixed income,” Bailey said.
Callie Moore, executive director of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition in Hayesville, said she was concerned about the propose rate hike’s impact on “the tens of thousands of people who live in poverty in Western North Carolina.”
Some attendees complained about the lack of signs at the courthouse pointing them to the meeting.
“I was on time, but we came to an entrance that had no sign,” said Katie Breckheimer, who came from Saluda to attend the meeting. “So for other hearings I do hope you all do make sure people can get in.”
Breckheimer echoed the concerns of other speakers.
“We’re captive customers,” she said. “We can’t shop around for a better company. Help us. … Please make Duke accountable to pay for its mess and deny their latest rate hike request.”
The proposed increase would impact about 2 million Duke Energy customers in central and Western North Carolina.
Public comments can still be submitted online. To submit a public comment or to find out more about the rate increase request, visit .ncuc.net/hearings/e7sub1214hearing.html.