bill johnson

January 29, 2013 - An environmental watchdog group has petitioned the N.C. Attorney General to reopen the probe into the controversial Duke-Progress merger, pointing to CEO Jim Rogers' newspaper interview in which he contradicted official testimony and described what sounds like illegal secret talks with state regulators during merger settlement negotiations.

December 6, 2012 - The N.C. Utilities Commission and attorney general have settled their probes into Duke Energy's controversial $32 billion merger with Progress Energy. But a watchdog group calls the settlements a "sell-out of the public" and says it will continue to fight the merger in court.

August 20, 2012 - An energy watchdog group is running ads in newspapers across North Carolina demanding the power giant come clean on billions of dollars in planned nuclear improvements that could cost its customers dearly.

July 27, 2012 - Duke Energy is facing a credit downgrade, shareholder lawsuits, multiple investigations, and a legal move to reopen the regulatory proceedings that allowed it to take over Progress Energy in the first place.

July 23, 2012 - The $2 billion to be poured into nuclear fleet upgrades turns the Duke-Progress merger into a public soaking instead of a public saving -- which violates the deal's key legal standard.

July 12, 2012 - The Democratic Party tied its upcoming convention's fortunes to Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers, now embroiled in a scandal over an abrupt CEO switch following the company's merger with Progress Energy. What will the controversy mean for the party in the upcoming election?

July 3, 2012 - Environmental and press watchdogs say Duke Energy is violating public records laws by keeping secret the special rate deals it negotiated with 17 major customers to win their support for the merger, which got final regulatory approval yesterday. In addition, regulators are questioning a surprise change in leadership at the newly merged company.