Statesville NC – What Happened in Statesville May Happen Here

As weatherization money flows from the Federal Government that is a decent chance that it may work.  Weatherization project goals are geared to decrease the consumption of electrical needs of ratepayers.  Most Cities in both the western and eastern power agencies depend on utility revenue to balance their budgets. (Citizens For Fair Utilities)

Raleigh NC – ElectriCities Hires Graham Edwards as CEO

Damn here we go. This guy will make more than the former CEO. More money, mo money. Wow this is too interesting. C. Dancy II – DCN Publisher

We reported on this last week when we mentioned it regarding our video on the NCEMPA Board Meeting.  Edwards base salary will be  $535,000 a year plus benefit package (including severance).  Edwards worked at Midwest ISO until his retirement.  He retired to South Carolina.  Edwards starts June 22nd. (Citizens For Fair Utilities)

See related:

New ElectriCities CEO makes $100K more

Raleigh NC – Easley Scandal Hits Progress Energy

This information was pulled from the Citizens For Fair Utilities Website.

From the Associated Press Monday June 1 2009
Questions of influence peddling abound.

Companies that worked closely with the Easley administration — including Progress Energy Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield and AT&T Corp. — gave at least $150,000 to Easley’s speakers series while her husband was in office. Some reported donating money to sponsor a speech by former President Bill Clinton in February, two weeks after Mike Easley left office, and said the former first lady’s role was not a factor.

Did the money buy access and/or favors? You be the judge.  Progress Energy and Electricities are joint owners of Nuclear Power Plants and those plants sell wholesale power to the 32 municipalities covered under NCEMPA. 

Read the whole article here:
News & Observer-Raleigh NC

Rocky Mount NC – Forum focuses on ways to reduce energy cost, usage

CLICK ON PICTURE TO WATCH VIDEO

Reuben Blackwell CEO OIC and Rocky Mount City Councilman Moderator

The power agency that serves Rocky Mount customers will be asked next month to evaluate refinancing up to $2.5 billion in power plant debt to reduce electric rates.

The announcement was made on Thursday night at a forum put together by citizens who are fed up with high electric rates.

“These light bills are too high,” said George Fisher, the public relations chairman of Citizens for Fair Utilities, . . . (Rocky Mount Telegram)

See related:

Rocky Mount NC – Utilities forum focuses on big picture

Rocky Mount NC – Utilities forum focuses on big picture

Citizens for Fair Utilities of Rocky Mount and Eastern North Carolina tonight will host, in conjunction with Opportunities Industrialization Center of Rocky Mount, an Eastern N.C. Energy Forum at the OIC Auditorium from 6 to 8 p.m.

Featured speakers include U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st District, and representatives from EnvironmentNC, the N.C. Energy Office, Wilson Community College, ElectriCities and Martin County Community Action Agency. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

See related:

Rocky Mount NC – For Immediate Release: ENERGY FORUM BRINGS POLICY TO THE PEOPLE

Rocky Mount NC – For Immediate Release: ENERGY FORUM BRINGS POLICY TO THE PEOPLE

For Immediate Release May 5, 2009

ENERGY FORUM BRINGS POLICY TO THE PEOPLE

Rocky Mount (NC) – On Thursday, May 7^th the Citizens for Fair Utilities (CFFU) of Rocky Mount and Eastern NC are hosting, in conjunction with OIC, Inc. of Rocky Mount, an Eastern NC Energy Forum at the OIC Auditorium from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Featured speakers include US Rep. G. K. Butterfield and representatives from ConservationNC, the NC Energy Office, Wilson Community College, ElectriCities and Martin County Community Action Agency.

“We initiated the idea of a dialogue between policy makers, policy influencers and policy implementers,” Jessie Frazier, co-founder of Citizens for Fair Utilities stated. “Consumers throughout the country, and in particular eastern North Carolina, are impacted directly by our elected and appointed officials who make and administer energy regulations and services.”

CFFU was formed to educate ElectriCities consumers about cost structuring, consumer tips and advocacy for lowering consumer energy costs. George Fisher, Public Relations Chair for CFFU commented, “We know that we need to be concerned about the entire energy picture. This conference is an attempt to put all the pieces together at one time.”

“Cities, residents and business owners in Rocky Mount, Tarboro, Wilson and a number of other towns and cities throughout the east are struggling to pay for the cost of electricity and gas now. We need to understand how energy policy is being crafted and how that impacts the way we live and our budgets today and in the future,” Reuben Blackwell, OIC President and CEO said. “This forum gives us an opportunity to hear directly from agency leaders and from our Congressman what the issues are and what we can expect.”

“People are trying to figure out how to live from day to day,” Andre’ Knight, Rocky Mount City Councilmember and NCEMPA Commissioner stated. “If we don’t change the way we live and consume energy, we won’t have a planet. At the same time, we can’t afford any more increases in our bills without increases in our income.”

Issues related to conservation, cap and trade legislation, weatherization, green jobs, ElectriCities debt and renewable energy will be discussed. The Forum is free to the public, but RSVPs are requested. Registration may be made by calling (252) 212-3460 through Thursday.

For more information, contact George Fisher at (252) 407-7771.

Rocky Mount NC – Eastern North Carolina Energy Forum featuring Congressman G. K. Butterfield

Rocky Mount NC – Utilities customer coalition seeks city council’s support

A citizens’ group is continuing its push to convince public officials to develop proposals for reducing Rocky Mount’s utility rates.

At Monday night’s city council meeting, leaders of Citizens For Fair Utilities asked the council to declare the month of May as “Utilities Awareness Month.” The council agreed to look over the proposed resolution and vote on it at the next meeting. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

See related:

Resolution

Citizens for Fair Utilities on FM 92.1 “Joy in the Morning Talk Show”

Rocky Mount NC – Citizens’ group to ask City Council for help in reducing electricity bills

A citizens’ group plans to ask the Rocky Mount City Council on Monday to become actively engaged in their efforts to lower electric rates.

The group, known as “Citizens For Fair Utilities,” plans to request that the council declare May “Utility Awareness Month.”

It is asking public officials and residents to participate in upcoming meetings to discuss ideas for reducing electric rates. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

Rocky Mount NC – Do You Know The Board Members During The Time Rocky Mount Joined ElectriCities?

Sources say Rocky Mount City Council Board Members during the time they joined ElectriCities were:

Fred Turnage WM – Former Mayor for 30 plus years.

Rev. Gerald Neice WM

W. C. Strye, Jr. WM

Rev. George W. Dudley BM

L. Ernest Bridgers Jr. WM

Walter T. Mears WM

William E. Broughton WM

Jimmie Armstrong WM

*White Male/Black Male

Sources say that they believe all of the members are alive except Dudley, Mears, and Armstrong.

If anyone find the above not to be accurate please feel free to contact me with your information.

From the Publisher – (Wilson NC) See Who Have Made Major Contributions Helping Rocky Mount With The ElectriCities Fight

Stay tuned for  names of some of the key players in the next day or two that have played a major role in the ElectriCities fight. These folks have written letters to the editor and/or have attended the (NCEMPA) North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency Commission meetings in Wilson faithfully. One person challenged Wilson Mayor Bruce Rose last year by seeking to unseat him.

Rocky Mount NC – Stimulus Cash To Fund Energy Conservation

Rocky Mount will receive more than $500,000 in federal stimulus funding for energy conservation projects throughout the city.

As part of a $3.2 billion Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program announced by President Barack Obama’s administration Thursday, Rocky Mount is poised to receive $572,100 in funding. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

Wilson NC – About 200 People Attended The Forum On The President’s Stimulus Plan

The forum was well attended today at the Wilson OIC. The Agenda was as follows:

Presiding -  Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield

Welcome  – Howard Jones CEO and Founder, Wilson OIC, Inc.

Congressman GK Butterfield – American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Dempsey Benton, Director, Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery and Investment

Rep. Joe Tolson, Chair North Carolina House Select Committee on Economic Recovery

Senator A.B. Swindell North Carolina Legislative Budget Process and Status

Questions and Answers

Greeting/Comments from North Carolina Legislative Delegation for Wilson, Edgecombe, Nash and Halifax Counties

Special Announcement from Mr. Reginald Speight, CEO Martin County Community Action, Inc.

Closing Remarks – Rep. Jean Farmer-Butterfield

Sponsored by: Representatives Jean Farmer-Butterfield, Angela Bryant, Lucy Allen, Joe Tolson and Randy Stewart, and Senators Clark Jenkins, Ed Jones, and A.B. Swindell

Special Acknowledgment to the Wilson OIC for the use of their facitility and accomodations

Video:

Discussion on President Barack Obama’s Economic Recovery Plan

Pictures:

Photos – (100 Total)

Wilson NC – Group airs grievances with costs of utilities

WILSON — A group of Rocky Mount residents spoke Wednesday to members of the N.C. Eastern Municipal Power Agency Board of Commissioners, seeking answers to the agency’s high wholesale electric rates. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

See related:

Electric Rates Cause A Stir – WITN TV

Video:

Citizens Addresses NCEMPA Commission Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Wilson NC – Citizens From the East Addresses NC Eastern Municipal Power Agency Commission Today in Wilson NC

Today I attended my first (NCEMPA) NC Eastern Municpal Power Agency Commission meeting in Wilson NC. The meeting was very interesting and well organized.

There were 4 speakers George Fisher (Rocky Mount), Thomas Joyner (Nashville), Jessie Frazier (Rocky Mount), and James Smith (Washington). They all did a great job.

You will be able to see the entire NCEMPA meeting on the DCN TV later tonight. When the link below is blue it will be available.

Go to  Citizens For Fair Utilities to see George Fisher’s presentation and the questions that were turned in.

See related:

Electric Rates Cause A Stir – WITN TV

Video:

Citizens Addresses NCEMPA Commission Wednesday, March 25, 2009