$3.6 million windfall for bus system? - Local / Metro - TheState.com

By CLIF LeBLANC - cleblanc@thestate.com

"SCANA spokeswoman Stephanie Jones confirmed Friday that the company plans to start charging customers the fee increase at the beginning of next year. Jones also said the annual franchise fee payment, which the company makes on the last day of the fiscal year, in this case June 30, 2011, would be based on the new higher fee based on company revenues for the calendar year 2010.
“It’s a prepayment” for the company’s privilege of running its power lines along public rights of way, Jones said. “We’re basically following what is stated in the franchise fee (agreement),” she said. Jones also said the company always pays a year in advance"

Two new entries to market for small modular reactors | The Energy Collective

Posted February 18, 2011 by Dan Yurman

Modular reactor designs were announced this week, both using scaled down light water reactor (LWR) designs. The use of conventional reactor technologies well understood by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission may speed up approval for commercial use.

Progress Energy Won’t Build New Reactors Before 2020

By Simon Lomax - Feb 17, 2011 1:30 PMProgress had “casual conversations” with Scana Corp. and state-owned utility Santee Cooper about taking a stake in the reactor project near Jenkinsville, South Carolina, Johnson said today in an interview. Talks will get “more realistic” when the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission grants a construction and operating license for the plant, he said.

Duke Energy reports lower 4Q earnings | Charlotte Business Journal

"A higher tax bill knocked Duke Energy Corp.’s fourth-quarter earnings down from a year ago. For the full year, however, Duke finished well ahead of 2009, boosted by a hot summer, a cold winter and a slowly recovering economy."

Cary News | Mayors look to utilities' merger for debt relief

John Murawsky,

"Raleigh-based Progress and Charlotte-based Duke last month announced they would combine to form the nation's largest electric utility with 7.1 million customers in six states.

As a condition of getting the merger approved by North Carolina regulators, the mayors want Progress and Duke to help retire municipal debt that 32 towns assumed when they agreed to joint ownership of five power plants.

That debt has resulted in higher electricity rates in the affected towns, which include Apex, Clayton and Wake Forest."

SC PSC's DMS down on Feb. 21 for maintenance.

"Monday, February 21st is President’s Day and a State Holiday. The Commission Offices will be closed.

During the day on Monday, the Commission's Information Systems Staff will be performing network maintenance which will require all network functions to be offline. This includes all access to the Commission website, DMS, ETariffs, the Orders Index, and email."

Moratorium on Landfill Proposed

Renee Dudley

Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, proposed a moratorium on coal-ash landfill permits in the ACE Basin -- an area that includes the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers -- for the fiscal year that begins in July. Coal ash is the potentially toxic by-product of coal-burning plants.

Piedmont Gas Rates Expected to fall - CharlotteObserver.com

In South Carolina, rates would fall 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent, reflecting a 13 percent to 15 percent drop from a year earlier.

Duke-Progress marriage needs Kentucky's blessings. - Triangle Business Journal

John Downey

RALEIGH – The path for Duke Energy Corp.’s proposed purchase of Progress Energy may not be so straightforward as was once thought.

Duke now acknowledges it will need the approval of the Kentucky Public Service Commission, as well as the N.C. Utilities Commission, to complete the deal.

Duke and Progress no longer believe they need approval from the S.C. Public Service Commission, although regulators in Columbia have raised some questions.

Columbia OKs 2 percent power bill hike - Local / Metro - TheState.com

By ADAM BEAM - abeam@thestate.com
The increase only applies to people who live or do business within the city limits. The 2 percent increase will generate an extra $3.6 million a year for City Council. The ordinance requires City Council to give 2 percent of the franchise fee to the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority, the governing body of the county’s bus system.

Obama budget request calls for major investments in nuclear energy - The Hill's E2-Wire

By Andrew Restuccia - 02/14/11 11:15 AM ET

"Obama’s FY2012 budget request, which was sent to Congress Monday, revives a similar provision in Obama’s fiscal year 2011 budget request that would provide $36 billion in additional loan guarantee authority for nuclear power. This would add to the $18 billion in nuclear loan guarantee authority the Department of Energy already has. The budget also calls for loan guarantees for energy efficiency and renewable energy."