The Canary Coalition’s Avram Friedman was scheduled to explain the Efficient and Affordable Energy Rates Bill (H135/S367) to a group at the Jackson County Justice Center in Sylva. The bill, co-sponsored by Patsy Keever (D-Buncombe), would invert utility rates to cause prices to increase with use. Exact brackets would be determined by a committee. In addition, the bill will create a pool to help low-income persons buy Energy-Star appliances. The pool would collect funds from an “avoidable pollution tax” levied on vendors of “energy-inefficient” appliances and premium taxes levied on super energy users.