RALEIGH — The possibility of unfair rate increases was the main reason the N.C. House of Representatives member from Lumberton voted against passage of The Modernize Energy Generation Bill.
“Now more than ever we need to protect our businesses and citizens from unfair rate hikes,” said Rep. Charles Graham, a Democrat. “In its current state there are simply too many unknowns with regards to the financial impact on the wallet of my constituents. Estimates from groups include an increase as high as double digits. In fact, during a press conference this week Kevin O’Donnell, who is an energy consultant for several manufacturers said, ‘it would increase rates 50 percent in a decade.’”
The energy legislation, also known as House Bill 951, was given final approval by the House on a 57-49 vote during a called session that started at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. The session was called by Speaker of the House Tim Moore, a Republican, because several colleagues would be unavailable to vote during the day.
The bill was sent to the Senate on Friday.
Rep. Brenden Jones, a Republican from Tabor City whose District 46 covers part of Robeson County, cast a yes vote for the bill.
“It’s time to usher North Carolina into the future of energy. This bill gives our state a diverse portfolio of energy sources and includes input from a diverse group of energy policy stakeholders who were brought together to confront the challenges facing consumers,” Moore said shortly have House passage of HB 951.
He added, “I’m determined to have North Carolina set the tone for what energy policy should be. And this bill gets our state moving forward, even leading the way.”
Graham said the bill undermines many of the state’s industries and was written with no input from members, interest groups, or community members. Discussion of the legislation took place only behind closed doors with a select few, he said.
The legislation weakens the authority of the NC Utilities Commission, according to Graham. The Commission helps consumers by ensuring rate adjustments energy companies are justified, and its power should not be weakened, according to the lawmaker.
Graham said, “Finally, the passage of this bill during the cover of night, during a midnight session, reflects poorly on the idea that we in Raleigh were elected to serve the will of the people.
I understand the need to modernize our energy, but we need an approach that understands these bills are a lot more than numbers on a document. This bill has the ability to make or break the financial success of our struggling families. I cannot in good conscience vote for something that could cause hardworking North Carolinians to pay the price. I look forward to working to find a more workable situation to secure our state’s energy future.”
The bill pushed by Republican leaders would retire early several Duke Energy power plants fueled by coal and expand solar production. The measure also lets Duke Energy seek multiyear rate increases, rather than year by year, and directs the utility to find a location for a new type of nuclear power plant.
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and many manufacturers are among the bill’s opponents, citing in part costs to ratepayers and the shift of authority away from the state Utilities Commission. Environmental advocates say the coal-fired plant retirements rely too much on shifting to natural gas for electricity.
