Utilities Commission

Duke rate hike

The N.C. Utilities Commission's Public Staff, which represents consumers, has recommended that Duke's request for $646 million a year in new revenue be sliced to $211 million.

The Public Staff recommended 29 downward adjustments to Duke's latest request. Together, the adjustments would allow an overall 4.8 percent rate increase, compared with the 15.4 percent increase Duke wants, according to N&O today.

The State has confirmed a questionable appointment to the NC Utilities Commission. After numerous letters were sent to Governor Easley, Edward Finley's nomination to the post by the Governor, as well as the reappointment of commission member Samuel "Jimmy" Ervin IV to another eight-year term has been confirmed.

The article cites that a letter sent to Easley by 17 environmental groups said Finley's employment and legal practice exhibited an "extreme one-sidedness" through his work on behalf of utility companies. Does the Governor or his "trusted" advisors ever listen to the public?

On second thought, I had better not post all that I wrote. Suffice it to say, Ed Finley, my former colleague, and the Governor's nominee to serve as Chaiman of the NC Utilities Commission, is a dang fine lawyer and an even better person, and his law career should be viewed as an asset, not a drawback. That he is being attacked as having a "one sided" approach to utilities law is a travesty. Criminal defense attorneys can serve as judges without being accused of being "one sided" in their application of the law. Ed Finley served his clients. That's a lawyer's job. And he is one of the best.

Lay off.