Duke Energy roasted by ratepayers

During an NC Utilities Commission hearing:

Duke's request includes a 17 percent hike for all residential customer classes. The largest group of those customers, however, would actually pay close to 20 percent more. Typical bills would rise about $18 a month beginning in February.

Like many reading this, I got my (legally required) notice from Duke the other day. When I saw the % increase for residents vs businesses, I said several bad words in a row, then shuffled them around and said them again. The suffering this will cause is incalculable, and should be summarily rejected by the Commission.

Charlottean Elizabeth Kincaid, who works in human services, described low-income clients who don't accept free fans in the summer heat because they fear higher electricity bills.

"People cannot afford this," she said. "I've heard them say that Duke's rates are not as high as in other places. Neither are North Carolina salaries."

It would be Duke's biggest rate hike in at least 20 years, if the N.C. Utilities Commission grants the request. Three-fourths of the increase would help pay for $4.8 billion in Duke construction since 2009, for new power plants and for pollution-control equipment.

I've not seen something this regressive smack our citizens in...well, ever. And before you mention the spike in gas prices, remember that everybody (including businesses) has to fork out those dollars.

This is crazy.