Jim Kennerly, Policy and Regulatory Analyst

As the Duke-Progress merger progresses, one of NCSEA’s top priorities is to ensure that Duke Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Carolinas continue to offer successful, customer-focused programs encouraging renewable energy and energy efficiency. To enhance transparency and provide greater certainty, NCSEA and the City of Raleigh have proposed convening a working group comprised of the utilities, local government decision-makers, clean energy service providers and energy advocates in order to allow all parties to exchange ideas and stay informed of the combined company’s plans to continue offering affordable clean energy options.

Without more information about the future of successful utility initiatives such as Progress Energy’s SunSense program, it will be very challenging for many local governments such as the City of Raleigh to undertake cost-effective sustainability initiatives that reduce waste, encourage clean energy and improve quality of life. In a letter NCSEA filed at the North Carolina Utilities Commission on behalf of the City of Raleigh, Mayor Nancy McFarlane asserts that “greater visibility as to the companies’ plans for integration of these programs and practices will better enable the City of Raleigh to carry out its mission, to the benefit of our 416,000 citizens.”

To see NCSEA’s filing at the Commission and Mayor McFarlane’s letter to the North Carolina Utilities Commission, click here.