CWNC will host a rate-hike rally in Pritchard Park this Saturday, Jan. 26, in opposition to Duke Energy's plan to raise utility rates by 18 percent.

The rally proceeds hearings being held statewide by the North Carolina Utilities Commission on the proposed rate hikes. The Buncombe area hearing is planned for Tuesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in the Buncombe County Courthouse, District Courtroom #1, 60 Court Plaza. For more information visit the NCUC Website.

Progress Energy merged with Duke Energy last year, becoming the largest utility company in the United States.

Official CWNC press release -

Press release
From Clean Water for North Carolina

Rally at 1pm Saturday in Pritchard Park

Hello, CWFNC friends!

My name is Grant Mincy and I am the new energy researcher and environmental justice organizer in Clean Water for NC's Asheville office. I look forward to working with all of you for a safer and more just energy future!

Please join me if you can this Saturday, January 26th in Pritchard Park at 1 pm to participate in a statewide day of action in protest of utility rate hikes. The Asheville event is co-sponsored by CWFNC, SAFE Carolinas, WNC Alliance, the Sierra Club, and other groups.

This year, Duke Energy is presenting its long term plan for how we get our energy. Duke is committed to a high cost energy policy filled with coal, natural gas, and nuclear, and backing away from an already weak commitment to energy efficiency and renewables! Their long term plan would raise utility rates in NC by 18%, burdening YOU, the consumer. Let's remind the North Carolina Utilities Commission that they are supposed to “balance” the needs of the utilities (ie, shareholders) and customers, and ask them to hold Duke accountable for a least cost plan that’s truly in the public interest.

Hope to see you this Saturday at Pritchard Park (4 College St, Asheville, NC 28801)! If you have any questions, contact me at grant@cwfnc.org or 828-251-1291.

For more information, please see the Consumers Against Rate Hikes website: http://www.consumersagainstratehikes.org/