FCAN applies for intervener status in Duke-Progress merger case

FCAN today joined with allies in North Carolina led by NC-WARN to oppose the Duke-Progress merger.  FCAN believes the merger is bad for consumers for several reasons.  The merger means more pollution, higher rates, and no benefits for consumers.

The groups are demanding the following from Duke-Progress:

1. Develop an energy efficiency first policy instead of relying on nukes and coal fired plants.

2. Commit to an Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard of 22% energy savings by 2025 for all residential, commercial and industrial customers.

3. Implement energy efficiency “best practices” across the merged Duke Energy operating companies.

4. Fund programs to help families who cannot afford energy efficiency, ranging from weatherization and insulation to appliances and HVAC systems.

Included in the coalition are

NC WARN

Nuclear Information and Resource Service

Public Citizen

Greenpeace USA

Florida Consumer Action Network

NC Justice Center

NC Housing Coalition

If you’d like to get involved, write to the

North Carolina Utilities Commission
DOCKET NO. E-2 Sub 998
4325 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC  27699-4325

Florida consumers have a lot to lose in this case.  We think the companies want to merge simply because Florida has a Super CWIP law, and North Carolina doesn’t. CWIP is Construction Work In Progress, and utilities aren’t allowed to bill consumers for it because it gives the utility a direct line into the consumer’s pocketbook.

But in Florida, the Legislature approved Advanced Nuclear Cost Recovery, which is known elsewhere as Super CWIP.  That’s because the utility can bill consumers for CWIP which ISN’T even in progress and, apparently, for plants that may never be built.

The utilities should find financing in the marketplace, but no investor would fund such a risky speculative venture. So the Florida Legislature stepped in and helped them out, since Progress, TECO, and FP&L are among their top contributors.

That means that while Duke can’t build the nukes it wants up in North Carolina, it can build them here.  In effect, Florida would become a nuclear donor state.

Read the petition to intervene here.