Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Requesting Rate Hike Hearing in Asheville

Progress Energy is requesting a 14% increase in electricity rates for residential customers.
SAFE Carolinas signed with Greenpeace and other environmental groups asking the NC Utilities Commission
to hold public hearings in Asheville and other strategic towns in NC.  It is important for the public to speak out concerning the rate hikes. We should have response as to the location by mid-November. We will be sure to keep you updated. 

The following is the letter that was sent to the NC Utilities Commission:



October 16, 2012

The Honorable Edward S. Finley, Jr.
North Carolina Utilities Commission
4325 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4325

Re: Progress Energy Rate Hearings (Docket E-2 Sub 1023)
Re: Duke Energy Rate Hearings (Docket E-7 Sub 989) (anticipated)

Dear Chairman Finley:
We are writing you on behalf of the thousands of North Carolina members and Duke Energy ratepayers of our organizations interested in the upcoming Duke Energy rate hearings. Our members will be directly impacted by the outcome of the potential rate increases, as will all Duke Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Carolinas customers throughout the state. In order to give customers of these utilities ample opportunity to testify and participate we have a few specific requests of the upcoming public hearing process:
1.       The upcoming public rate hike hearings are held in 9 locations across the state so as to allow geographic diversity for public input. We request that high density regions respective of each rate base have individual hearings to accommodate the thousands of concerned ratepayers in and around these municipalities. These should include Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Asheville, Pittsboro, Fayetteville, and Wilmington. 
2.       At the 2011 rate hike hearings, dozens of concerned residents were turned away because there was a lack of seating. To accommodate hundreds of people at each hearing, we request that each hearing space be large enough and overflow space made available should the crowd eclipse capacity.
3.       We request that hearings are translated into regionally important languages, especially Spanish. The Latino community is the largest growing in our state, and language access should not be a barrier to participation for any of our neighbors.
4.    Upon request, providing ASL interpreter services or other accommodation to make sure that all people have access to the proceedings regardless of any disability that they may have.
5.      Similar to how the high interest hearings from this summer were streamed live, we ask that all of the hearings are streamed live for concerned residents from across the state unable to attend in person.
6.   We request that all of the hearings be in the evening to provide opportunity for working people to attend and provide input. 

Thank for you taking the time to consider these requests. Hundreds of thousands of North Carolina families do not have a choice of their energy supplier. What we have is the opportunity to hold our utility accountable to our interests through proceedings like the upcoming rate hike hearings. 
As the agency charged with regulating rates throughout the state, we look to you to protect the interest of the public and ensure reasonable rates. To that end, ensuring equal and ample access for all North Carolinians is our goal.
The organizations signed believe collectively that taking these steps will give the hearings integrity they will lack otherwise. We look forward to hearing back from you by Friday, October 26, 2012, and will follow up as appropriate.
Sincerely,
SAFE Carolinas, Asheville, NC


This letter was also signed by:
350 Asheville
350 Boone
350 Winston-Salem
Action NC
Appalachian Voices
Canary Coalition
Catawba Riverkeeper® Foundation, Inc.
Clean Air Carolina
Clean Water for North Carolina
Democracy North Carolina
Disability Rights North Carolina
Dogwood Alliance
Environmentalists Inc.
Green Grannies
Greenpeace USA
Haw River Assembly
NC WARN
North Carolina Housing Coalition
North Carolina Interfaith Power and Light
North Carolina Justice Center
North Carolina League of Conservation Voters
Occupy Charlotte Environmental Working Group
Occupy Greensboro Energy Working Group
Proposition One Campaign
SAFE Carolinas
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Waterkeepers Carolina
We Love Mountain Island Lake
Western NC Alliance




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