Duke Energy, Progress Energy to cut 2,000 jobs - Business Courier

John Downey

"Duke Energy and Progress Energy will tell North Carolina regulators this week that they expect to eliminate 2,000 positions after the companies merge.
That is 500 more than a rough estimate of 1,500 – about 5 percent of their combined work force – that a witness provided to the N.C. Utilities Commission in pre-filed testimony for next week’s hearings on the merger."

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Tax Plan to Turn Old Buildings ‘Green’ Finds Favor - NYTimes.com

By JUSTIN GILLIS

Published: September 19, 2011

"In the past three years, half the states have passed legislation permitting energy retrofits financed by property-tax surcharges, and hundreds of cities and counties are considering such programs. While the situation poses some risks, and programs aimed specifically at homeowners have run into a snag, many jurisdictions are moving forward with plans to focus on commercial properties."

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Progress on hook for $24M - Local/State - NewsObserver.com

John Murawski

"The Public Staff blamed the costs on substandard performance at the plant near Hartsville. As a result of the forced shutdowns, Progress had to spend extra to generate electricity using less efficient power plants, and to buy power from other utilities.

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 78, Escapes Smoky Plane by Sliding Down Exit Chute - News - ABA Journal

"Although she is the U.S. Supreme Court's oldest member, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg still keeps up an active travel schedule.

It was unusually active today, however, because Ginsburg, 78, had to exit a smoky plane at Dulles International Airport by sliding down an emergency exit chute, along with other passengers, reports the Associated Press.

Ginsburg wasn't injured. But a couple of other passengers were, apparently none of them seriously."

[This post has nothing to do with utilities, but I just could not pass it up]

SCANA chief says nuclear plant safe - Business - TheState.com

Jeff Wilkinson

"Marsh said a 90-day assessment conducted by the industry has shown that existing and planned reactors in the United States are safe from a Fukushima-like disaster and V.C. Summer in particular is designed beyond the specifications of the largest earthquakes experienced or expected in the area.
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Critics of Duke-Progress deal beat deadlilne | CharlotteObserver.com & The Charlotte Observer Newspaper

John Murawski

"The N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, a Raleigh trade group that represents solar and other renewable developers, wants the commission to require the power companies to pay $75 million into a public benefit fund to pay for home weatherization and other programs. The utilities have committed to contributing $15 million, one-fifth that amount.

The group also wants the commission to allow solar power developers that build rooftop solar panels to be able to sell electricity directly to homes and business that host the rooftop panels. Currently homeowners can use their own solar electricity or sell it back to their electric utility, but state law only allows regulated utilities, municipal power agencies and rural electric cooperatives to sell power to retail customers."

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Shocker: Power demand is falling - Business - TheState.com

By JONATHAN FAHEY - The Associated Press

"From 1980 to 2000, residential power demand grew by about 2.5 percent a year. From 2000 to 2010, the growth rate slowed to 2 percent. Over the next 10 years, demand is expected to decline by about 0.5 percent a year, according to the Electric Power Research Institute, a nonprofit group funded by the utility industry.
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