Tag: Duke Energy

Utility Corruption

FirstEnergy scandal is latest example of utility corruption, deceit

Utilities have deceived public officials and investors to grow profits, occasionally leading to criminal investigations and prosecution.

/ July 23, 2020

North Carolina utilities not reconnecting customers during COVID-19 pandemic

Thousands remain without electricity, gas, or water during crisis

/ May 12, 2020

Duke Energy Climate Report charts fossil fuel-laden path to net-zero, lagging behind peers

Key Points: Duke Energy released a new climate report describing potential pathways to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Its main scenario relies heavily on fossil gas expansion, offsets, and...

/ May 5, 2020
Utility Corruption

Utility CEOs received over $1 billion in executive compensation from 2017 – 2019

Investor-owned utilities' CEO compensation was up 26% in 2019 over 2018.

/ April 27, 2020
A PG&E smart meter. Utilities are unevenly applying late fees and reconnecting customers who had been disconnected before pandemic crisis

Caught in patchwork of policies and pledges, some utility customers may still be awaiting electricity restoration or racking up fees

A mosaic of state policies and voluntary pledges has meant that the effects of missing a utility payment are playing out unevenly across the country.

/ April 14, 2020
A picture of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce building.

Energy companies in U.S. Chamber silent as Chamber opposed use of Defense Production Act to produce medical supplies for COVID-19

But some energy companies in the Chamber have lobbied for using the DPA to bail out struggling coal plants instead

/ March 27, 2020
Utility decarbonization trajectories

Morgan Stanley: Duke, other utilities ignoring profit opportunity by failing to decarbonize rapidly

Morgan Stanley analysts say utilities can grow earnings by accelerating coal-to-renewables switch, but some utilities are letting the opportunity slip away.

/ March 12, 2020

Duke Energy refuses to consider climate-related risk in North Carolina rate case

Utility enters testimony that contradicts emissions commitments, dodges questions about climate preparedness while seeking to recover grid costs.

/ March 10, 2020

Financial analysts expect decarbonization will benefit utility ratepayers and shareholders

Replacing coal with renewable energy could save customers $8 billion each year

/ January 9, 2020

Strings Attached: How utilities use charitable giving to influence politics and increase investor profits

Click to jump to the utility case studies. I. Introduction In the fall of 2017, a parade of paid actors, pretending to be concerned residents, lined up to offer public...

/ December 10, 2019