NCSEA filed a brief Nov. 28 at the NC Utilities Commission underscoring its opposition to the Duke Energy-Progress Energy merger in the absence of several important modifications to the final agreement. This is the latest action by NCSEA, which has been involved in the merger docket before the Commission.

Specifically, NCSEA requested that if the merger is approved by the Commission, the utilities should:

• Undertake a pilot program to evaluate the benefits of third-party direct sales of renewable power to small-energy consumers and to;
• Enhance the Public Benefits Fund agreed upon in the initial merger settlement by Duke and Progress by authorizing on-bill financing of energy efficiency measures and providing sufficient funding for existing low-income energy efficiency and bill pay assistance programs.

Lornizo Joyner, an 11-year veteran of the NC Utilities Commission, is retiring at the end of year, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.

"I decided it was just time," said Joyner, who has worked for the state for 37 years, including a stint with the state’s utility customer advocate, the Public Staff of the Commission, the Business Journal reported.

Her one regret, she told the Journal, is that she will not be a part of the final decision on Duke Energy’s pending $26 billion merger with Progress Energy. "That’s a fascinating case,” she told the newspaper. "But there’s always going to be an interesting case. You just have to pick your time and go."

News of her departure came as the final public hearing for Duke Energy’s now 7.2% rate increase started Monday.

Last week, the NC Utilities Commission conducted hearings on Duke Energy's progress toward complying with our state's Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) law - and specifically the solar set aside. Attendees, including NCSEA's staff, were stunned by their testimony. And, in a second blow to NC's clean energy industry and consumers this week, our utilities finally convinced legislative leadership to not take up the Solar Jobs Bill (HB495/SB473) and the Energy Independence & Job Creation Bill (SB694). These much-needed bills would have retained jobs, created up to 8,300 new jobs across North Carolina by 2015, and allowed a reasonable amount of market competition.

This past July the Utilities Commission considered an application by Duke Energy to register two test co-firings utilizing woody biomass with coal.  While the evidentiary portion of this hearing has closed, there has not been a final ruling from the Commission on the eligibility of these facilities to earn renewable energy credits (RECs), nor have they indicated which direction they are leaning.