nc utilities commission

February 13, 2014 - Following Duke Energy's massive coal ash spill into the Dan River, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) has come under scrutiny for his unusually close relationship with the utility giant. We take a by-the-numbers look at just how tight they are.

July 11, 2013 - More legislators in North Carolina than in any other state have signed Americans for Prosperity's pledge that discourages action on climate change. Credit for the pledge's political success goes to the billionaire brothers of Koch Industries who founded AFP -- but also to North Carolina's own Art Pope, a conservative mega-donor and longtime AFP leader.

June 18, 2013 - A utility watchdog and its hired expert scoured Duke Energy rate-hike filings and uncovered numerous instances where the company inappropriately charged customers for things like political contributions and a sports team sponsorship. They're calling on state regulators to fine Duke at least $5 million for the violations.

March 29, 2013 - An email exchange between John Droz of the fossil fuel-funded American Tradition Institute and an attorney with the North Carolina Public Staff led to the introduction of a controversial bill that would have made it harder for the agency to do its work on behalf of the public.

March 4, 2013 - NC WARN is running full-page ads in North Carolina newspapers calling on Gov. Pat McCrory to disclose exactly how much stock he holds in Duke Energy, his longtime employer, and to recuse himself from making appointments to the state regulatory commission that oversees the company.

February 14, 2013 - The North Carolina governor may soon get to appoint all members of the N.C. Utilities Commission -- even though he's heavily invested in the state's largest regulated utility. Now a watchdog group is calling on him to come clean about just how big those holdings are.

February 13, 2013 - As commissioners consider whether to approve Duke Energy's controversial electric generation plan, the legislature wants to fire all of them and let Gov. Pat McCrory appoint a new slate. But given McCrory's longstanding ties to -- and ongoing investments in -- the utility giant, watchdogs say that represents a serious conflict of interest.