A public hearing was held in Franklin to collect citizen input on Duke Energy’s proposed 12.6% rate hike. The increase would pay for a new coal-burning plant near Marion. It would also help maintain the utility’s credit rating and pay for technologies to make the coal burning more green. Two tables were set up at the front of the room. One was for representatives from Duke Energy, the other was for the Public Staff of the NC Utilities Commission. According to the Smoky Mountain Times, “The Public Staff acts as a guardian of the public’s interest against the regulated monopoly enjoyed by utilities.”
Most speakers were environmentalists. The Canary Coalition and Western North Carolina Alliance were represented. They argued that coal plants could never be green enough, electricity use in the state has dropped 2%, plans to build over 100 coal plants nationwide have been canceled, Duke hasn’t used funds from its last rate hike to subsidize competitive energy markets, etc.
