electric utilities

December 21, 2012 - Dec. 22 marks four years since a coal ash impoundment collapsed at a TVA power plant in Tennessee, inundating a community and two rivers. As EPA drags its feet over issuing federal coal ash rules, politicians backed by industry interests are maneuvering to block the agency's ability to protect people and the environment -- even though their states have been adversely affected by poor regulation.

October 19, 2012 - Corporate cash flowed to both the 2012 Republican National Convention held in Tampa, Fla. and the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.

October 16, 2012 - Defend My Dividend calls itself a grassroots campaign to halt a dividend tax hike. But the group's ad buys are linked to trade groups for utilities and other dividend-paying companies.

October 15, 2012 - A study by Duke University researchers has found toxic contamination far exceeding federal standards for safe drinking water and aquatic life in lakes and rivers located near coal ash waste sites at power plants -- including the main drinking water source for Charlotte. The scientists say they hope their findings will spur better regulation.

October 11, 2012 - The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a complaint on behalf of four environmental advocacy groups asking state regulators to require cleanup of documented groundwater contamination from coal ash storage ponds at 14 power plants owned by Duke Energy and its Progress Energy subsidiary.

October 2, 2012 - Unallowable expenses the utility giant submitted as part of recent North Carolina rate hike cases included lobbying, political junkets and costs related to a criminal investigation in Indiana. A watchdog group calls for an audit and penalties for improper future submissions.

August 27, 2012 - The North Carolina General Assembly's Republican leaders are raising more money from special-interest political action committees than their predecessors, despite promises to end the state's "pay to play" political culture.