Miffed S.C. regulators delay hearing on Duke Energy spending for Lee plant | Charlotte Business Journal

John Downey

"Commission Chairman Butch Howard allowed the attorneys in the hearing to make opening statements, and then read them the riot act. He said it was “totally inappropriate to present a settlement like this to the commission on the day of a hearing.” Commission rules generally require seven days' notice of any agreement."

Pollution suit: SCE&G to pay feds $3.8 million - Local / Metro - TheState.com

Sammy Fretwell

"Contamination at the aquarium and visitors’ center sites came from land SCE&G or its predecessor companies have owned since before the Civil War. First used for a manufactured gas plant between 1855 and 1910, the property today houses a 32-year-old electrical substation.
Through the years, the power company and its predecessors produced a mix of hazardous substances that were piped, dumped and released to what today is occupied by the visitor’s center and aquarium, according to legal documents filed in federal court. Volatile organic compounds, cyanide and arsenic are among the toxins that washed off the SCE&G property, a federal lawsuit against SCE&G said."

SC lawmaker: Utility execs don't deserve a raise - State & Regional - Wire - TheState.com

By SEANNA ADCOX - Associated Press

"Rep. Jim Merrill said he will seek to rescind raises approved for Santee Cooper executives and bar them from getting a raise in any year that state employees don't get a cost-of-living increase."

Downside to Duke Energy From Increasing Environmental Regulations - NASDAQ.com

With a view on reducing pollution, regulators are planning to tighten many of the clean air and clean water regulations. As a result of these initiatives, the costs for utilities are expected to increase as they will have to make a lot of changes to their operations in order to produce and deliver cleaner power. In addition, utility revenues have been slow to recover as power prices have remained low with people and businesses using less electricity, a continuation of tends seen during the recent downturn."

Progress Energy customers turn down the heat - Consumer - NewsObserver.com

John Murawski

"The company blames the ailing economy for sluggish electricity sales as customers dial back thermostats, buy energy-efficient appliances and budget conservatively. The unexpected duration of the trend suggests that many in the nation are shedding a freewheeling mindset that had been ingrained in the bygone era of cheap and abundant energy."

Nation’s Electric Co-ops Honor U.S. Rep. James Clyburn for Distinguished Service | The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)

"WASHINGTON, DC; May 2, 2011— The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) today awarded U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), Assistant Democratic Leader, with its Distinguished Service Award. Rep. Clyburn, the first African American to receive the award, was recognized for his many contributions to electric cooperatives throughout his more than 18 years of service in Congress. Clyburn counts more than 270,000 electric cooperative consumer-members as constituents."

Briefs: S.C. represented in Duke-Progress merger talks - Business - TheState.com

"The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff has filed to intervene and become a party of record in the proposed merger of North Carolina’s Duke Energy Corp. and Progress Energy Inc. The office took the step to ensure the South Carolina’s interests are represented and protected during merger proceedings."