Energy has the potential to become a driving force in North Carolina's economic recovery, according to business leaders who spoke at a forum Jan. 3. The demand and need for affordable energy was a focus of the 10th annual Economic Forecast Forum in the Research Triangle Park.

The forum, a program of the NC Bankers Association and the NC Chamber of Commerce, featured an address by Governor Bev Perdue who said she was hopeful about North Carolina's economic growth in 2012. Joining Perdue were business leaders and economists who had a cautiously optimistic economic outlook for the new year centered in part around the energy sector's increasing role in state's economy.

"We made significant improvements in 2011," said Lou Ebert with the NC Chamber of Commerce. "The energy sector offers great promise, whether it's clean tech, wind, solar, nuclear, shell gas or offshore exploration."

Bill Johnson, who will become the president and CEO of Duke Energy  when its merger with Progress Energy is completed, is scheduled to discuss energy's role in North Caroliina's economy at the 10th Economic Forecast Forum. The event, sponsored by the NC Chamber and the North Carolina Bankers Association, has been scheduled for noon, Jan. 3 at the Sheraton Imperial hotel in Research Triangle Park.

Other participants inclue Tom Skains, chairman, president and CEO of Piedmont Natural Gas and Kevin Kabat, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bancorp who will give the keynote speech.

To read more about the forum, visit the Triangle Business Journal. To register for the event, click here.

RALEIGH, NC  — The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) remains opposed to the Duke Energy-Progress Energy merger. Wednesday’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) order rejecting the companies’ proposal reinforces NCSEA’s stated concerns.

As electricity rates continue to rise, NCSEA shares FERC’s concern that the merger will inappropriately reduce market competition. NCSEA believes that the companies’ offer of a limited amount of wholesale power into eastern North Carolina does little to reduce the merged company’s market power and is not in the public interest.

 “Over the past 11 years, NCSEA has found that the average residential ratepayer has seen their electric bill rise over 300 dollars per year,” said Ivan Urlaub, NCSEA Executive Director. “In attempting to create the country’s largest monopoly, NCSEA is concerned that Duke and Progress have set the stage for additional rate increases that the two utilities have said they will request. To reduce the amount of future rate increases, NCSEA supports measures that allow for limited market competition and provide ratepayers more options and greater control over their energy bills.”

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.

Over the past decade, North Carolina residents have seen a significant jump in their electric bills. The NC Sustainable Energy Association studied this trend by examining North Carolina Utilities Commission dockets to objectively evaluate the role of electric utilities' energy resource choices as drivers of electric rate increases in the state.    

 Given increased public interest regarding electricity costs in the wake of Duke Energy's recent proposal to rise residential electric rates by more than 17 percent, NCSEA presented its findings in a report entitled, "Understanding the Impact of Electric Generation Choices on North Carolina Residential Electricity Rates." 

A series of public hearings on the proposed rate hike were held by the Utilities Commission across the state. The hearings drew large crowds and strong opposition from some consumers.

NCSEA's white paper focuses largely on how much recent rate changes have been due to fossil and nuclear fuel costs, new coal and natural gas power plants and compliance with North Carolina's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS).   

Duke Energy and Progress Energy hurriedly filed amendments to their $26 billion merger with federal regulators on Monday in a bid to get the deal approved by the end of the year. The filings were made possible by the NC Utilities Comission (NCUC), who ruled earlier on Monday that the utilities did not have to wait the standard 30 days to add safeguards requested by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The federal regulators ruled last month that the merger raises significant concerns about market concentration, which should be addressed in order for the merger to be approved.

Duke Energy has proposed a rate increase for its North Carolina retail electric customers, which totals on average 15.5% (residential increase would be 17.4%). To change electric rates paid by customers, Duke Energy must ask for approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC), the regulatory body that oversees electric utilities in our state. If approved, new rates would like go into effect in February 2012. During this review process, the commission will hold both public hearings and formal evidentiary hearings across the state in order to get feedback from customers and involved groups.  NCSEA has intervened in this rate case and will testify at the late November hearing before the Commission.

RALEIGH, NC — North Carolina’s leading clean energy conference is just around the corner – space is limited so attendees are encouraged to register today!  The NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) will hold its annual “Making Energy Work” conference on Wednesday, November 9^th at the Raleigh Convention Center.  The conference is well-known for delivering unparalleled educational content, stimulating discussions and debates, and great networking opportunities for a wide range of attendees including the “novice” to energy industry experts to policymakers – everyone involved with our rapidly-developing clean energy economy.  For more information on the agenda and to register, please visit: http://energync.org/annualmeeting2011.

NCSEA continues to be extensively involved with the proposed merger of Duke Energy and Progress Energy.  As part of our opposition to the merged company that will become the nation's largest utility, NCSEA has outlined several recommendations or stipulations that should be incorporated into a settlement, if approved by regulators.  Below are the latest updates from proceedings before the NC Utilities Commission (NCUC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Have you ever wondered what is causing your electric bill to go up?

Many North Carolinians currently believe our State’s growing use of energy savings solutions and renewable energy are the major cause of their rising electric bills due to inaccurate media stories or other sources.  Through our research into publicly available documents at the NC Utilities Commission, NCSEA has found that since 2000, the average residential customer’s electric bill has steadily risen to pay for the rising cost of coal fuel and new coal and natural gas power plants – not new renewable energy and energy saving solutions.