Council approves power bonds refinancing plan – Rocky Mount Telegram

Rocky Mount City Council members gave their unanimous approval Tuesday night to the N.C. Eastern Municipal Power Agency’s plan to refinance about $400 million in bonds.

The issue was presented to the council at its Monday meeting, but members recessed the meeting until Tuesday when they could talk about the plan with the chief financial officer of the power agency and ElectriCities CEO Graham Edwards. (More)

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ElectriCities 

Progress Energy Merger 

Rocky Mount City Council

Breaking News: City Halts Duke and Progress Energy Merger a Third Time

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3 cities fault Duke merger plan

Duke Energy, Progress Energy make third attempt to become nation’s largest electric company 

Progress Energy

Petition targets Wilson electric bills – Wilson Times

Jackie Mullis has started circulating a petition and is asking voters for their signature in opposition to the city of Wilson’s ties with ElectriCities.

Mullis has been at the Wilson County Board of Elections Tuesday and Wednesday asking people to sign the petition after they’ve finished voting. She’s also walked through her neighborhood asking for support. So far, she has about 70 signatures. (More)

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ElectriCities

Electric rate committee recommends restricting revenue – Wilson Times

Response: “It’s been a waste of time to continue to study and study and study and do nothing,” Dew said. “The legislature created this monster years ago and the legislature should slay this monster.”

I totally agree with Ricardo Dew whom have done much research and study on ElectriCities. I agree with all that he has said addressing this issue be it in Wilson and Rocky Mount NC. C. Dancy II – The Political Agitator

RALEIGH — State lawmakers believe their best shot at reducing electric rates in the future is through legislation.

The Municipal Power Agency Relief subcommittee, co-chaired by Sen. Buck Newton, R-Wilson, and Rep. Jeff Collins, R-Nash, finalized its study report Thursday that recommends legislation that restricts the use of electric fund revenues and requires revenues be used for debt payments. (More)

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Study panel finds few answers on electric rates – Rocky Mount Telegram 

ElectriCities

Study panel finds few answers on electric rates – Rocky Mount Telegram

Response: They found that refinancing the debt is not an option, Newton said. Doing so would have long-term disadvantages because of the bond market and the nature of the debt.

I hope those ignant host and co-host on and/or those who call in to WHIG TV Morning Show, America In Danger on WHIG TV read this report because I get sick and tired of their ignant comments misleading folks. I have called in several times correcting their ignance.

I just called America in Danger this past Monday night for the 2nd time correcting Robert Cressionnie’s ignance. He asked me the question did I feel it was wrong for the city to take money from utilities to pay for special projects and I said as long as it is legal they can do it and if anyone has a problem with it they need to fight to change it. The damn fool kept asking me the same question saying I was dancing around the answer. I told the damn fool that I was not going to answer the question how he wanted me to. I ended up hanging up on his ignant a . . . I hate it when folks intentionally mislead folks. C. Dancy II – DCN Publisher

RALEIGH – A legislative committee that has been examining ways to lower electric rates for many residents in Eastern North Carolina is recommending legislation that would limit the amount of money certain cities could transfer from their electric funds to their general funds. (More)

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ElectriCities

Electric rate group to vote today – Wilson Times

A subcommittee tasked with finding a way to reduce electric rates in eastern North Carolina will conclude its study today and vote on its findings.

The subcommittee report could include a recommendation to seek legislation that would restrict the use of electric fund revenues by the municipalities that sell electricity supplied through the N.C. Eastern Municipal Power Agency. The city of Wilson is one of 32 NCEMPA member cities. (More)

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ElectriCities

Former Rocky Mount Police Chief John Manley Wants To Unseat Rocky Mount City Councilman Andre Knight But Why?

John Manley says he is not running against Rocky Mount City Councilman Andre Knight but I ask the question how does he come up with that?

I have some questions why is Manley running against Knight? I have heard Manley on FM 99.3 Talk Show and seen him on WHIG TV twice and he continues to say he is not running against Knight. What?

I get pissed off every time I see Manley on WHIG TV because they are eating this race up with their racist a . . . I know the deal on WHIG TV because they  have played a major role in trying to unseat Knight over the years. It is so clear that they are pushing Manley because of the conversation they have as if they just love Manley when in fact they don’t give a damn about him but just want to see Knight removed from office. What tickles the hell out of me is when they say Knight has not had anyone of Manley status to run against him so Manley should have a good chance of defeating him. So this means these ignant folks over at WHIG TV think they are speaking for the majority of black folks. Well maybe they are, maybe they know something I don’t know.

I wonder do Manley feel he would have been hired as the Chief of Rocky Mount Police Department if the current council had not been a majority black? Maybe and maybe not I don’t know but what I do know the timing was right with the board in place.

I am trying to figure why would Manley run against the one of the most vocal if not the most vocal councilpersons? Do he feel Knight has not done a good job and if so he need to say it. Knight serves on North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency Board and has been one of the most vocal board members there as well whereby he was one of only about 3 black board members. Knight has been responsible for some major changes within NCEMPA which is a branch of the NC ElectriCities Board.

I wonder why Manley didn’t file to run for Mayor and if he had I wonder would WHIG TV be so supportive of him?

I know Manley and Knight well. I don’t live in Rocky Mount but I have family and friends that do. I have worked in Rocky Mount for the past 25 years and I have been to the Rocky Mount Human Relations and City Council meetings longer than that. I have also been a member of the Rocky Mount Branch NAACP since 1993 and also served on the county Democratic Party Executive Committee since the early 90’s as well. I have been a member of other organizations in Rocky Mount. I know politics and almost all of the political leaders and elected officials in Rocky Mount so I am aware of the issues.

Well I hate to see that Manley is running against Knight however it is what it is. I will say I don’t think this is the right time.

If I could vote for anyone it would have to be for Knight because of his record. I feel he deserves to be re-elected because I don’t know of any reason why he should not.

 

The cost of electricity is devastating Eastern North Carolina–IndyWeek.com

In nearly every story, at some point the power gets cut off.

Last month, when the NAACP’s Truth and Hope Tour of Poverty in NC embarked on its two-day tour of high-poverty counties in the northeastern part of the state, those of us on board the bus knew we’d hear the stories of people who have lived in poverty for generations. (More)

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ElectriCities

Duke, Progress move back merger date to mid-year – News & Observer

Duke Energy and Progress Energy have delayed the closing date of their corporate merger as the two North Carolina electric companies face tough regulatory scrutiny of their proposed $26 billion deal.

In a memo to employees issued today, the companies said the earliest their merger could now close is May or June. Just last month, Charlotte-based Duke and Raleigh-based Progress predicted they could finish their merger as soon as March. (More)

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ElectriCities

Lawmakers: No simple solution to high electric rates – Rocky Mount Telegram

RALEIGH – Lawmakers who met Tuesday to discuss high electric rates in many parts of Eastern North Carolina said there will be no silver bullet for reducing those costs.

They heard from economic development and energy experts who discussed several potential options during a three-hour meeting of the Joint Municipal Power Agency Relief Committee at the N.C. Legislative Building in Raleigh. (More)

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ElectriCities

Lawmakers take another look at electric rates – The Wilson Times

Legislators will take a closer look at electric rates in Eastern North Carolina Tuesday in an effort to find solutions for costs that some say are crippling many residents and business owners.

The Joint Municipal Power Agency Relief committee will meet Tuesday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 544 of the Legislative Office Building in Raleigh. The committee is co-chaired by Sen. Buck Newton, a Republican who represents Wilson and Nash counties, and Rep. Jeff Collins, R-Nash. (More)

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ElectriCities

Progress-Duke delay good for Eastern N.C. – Source: The Rocky Mount Telegram

Some welcome news came this week with the announcement that Duke Energy’s plans to gobble up Progress Energy had been delayed by federal regulators.

Rocky Mount and New Bern can claim victory in the announcement, which experts predict will delay any utility merger for at least three months. (More)

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New Bern NC – Duke-Progress merger blocked by regulators – Source: Sun Journal

City of Rocky Mount Responds to Recent FERC Order–Rejection of Duke-Progress Energy Merger

ElectriCities

New Bern NC – Duke-Progress merger blocked by regulators – Source: Sun Journal

A merger between Duke Energy and Progress Energy to form the largest utilities company in the country has be blocked by federal regulators.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in a statement Thursday that Duke and Progress have not done enough to protect competition in North Carolina and South Carolina. (More)

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City of Rocky Mount Responds to Recent FERC Order–Rejection of Duke-Progress Energy Merger

ElectriCities

City of Rocky Mount Responds to Recent FERC Order–Rejection of Duke-Progress Energy Merger

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Rocky Mount NC & New Bern NC: Feds deny, delay Duke-Progress merger again – Source: News & Observer

ElectriCities 

Feds block Duke-Progress merger

Rocky Mount NC & New Bern NC: Feds deny, delay Duke-Progress merger again – Source: News & Observer

Federal regulators have again rejected the proposed merger between Duke Energy and Progress Energy, assuring the $26 billion deal won’t get done this year, and raising questions whether it can get done at all.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said this evening the merger raises serious concerns about giving the companies too much monopoly power in North Carolina. Announced in January, the merger would create the nation’s largest electric utility to be based in Charlotte. It would also result in the elimination of 1,860 positions, mostly in North Carolina. (More)

Response: Rocky Mount City Council and New Bern NC was on top of this thing. Maybe the other cities all 29 will get onboard in the future because they need to look at how they will benefit. What they need to do is to reimburse Rocky Mount and New Bern for some of the money they spent on legal fees. C. Dancy II – The Political Agitator

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ElectriCities