STATE NEWS: Attorney general opposes Duke rate hike

January 10, 2012

North Carolina's attorney general is taking a stand against Duke Energy's proposed electricity rate increase.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports Attorney General Roy Cooper's office filed a legal brief Monday with the North Carolina Utilities Commission detailing his opposition to the rate increase averaging more than 7 percent.

Cooper says the higher power cost would be too much for Duke's 1.8 million customers in the state.

Duke Energy already agreed to cut in half its initial rate increase request of 15 percent after loud complaints by consumers and talks with the Utilities Commission's Public Staff, which represents consumers.

Most of the increase would pay for $5 billion Duke has spent on power plants and pollution controls in North Carolina and South Carolina since 2009.