Posted on 07/9/2013 by Steve Hahn | AARP North Caroliina | Comments
RALEIGH ? The board game Monopoly?s Mr. Money Bags made an appearance on Halifax Mall, outside of the NC Utilities Commission?s headquarters in Raleigh, as Commissioners weighed the final evidence in Duke Energy?s rate hike request. If approved, the hikes could cost residential consumers an average of $14 more a month next year.
Mr. Money Bags was symbolic of the corporate money grab that puts too much of a burden on fixed income residents, especially seniors who have limited sources of income in their retirements. AARP North Carolina members, along with others were there protest the proposed rate hikes by Duke Energy.
AARP member Mike Latta of Raleigh, was among the protesters with ?Affordable Energy Now,? signs. He worries that each dollar taken away from seniors to pay for their utilities, is one less dollar spent on other important needs, impacting the many businesses that rely on spending in the community.
Duke Energy?s rate hikes have been met with much opposition from watchdog groups that say Duke has been untruthful in their accounting practices and has gone relatively unpunished.? Protesters performed a skit in which Duke Energy was portrayed as the board game Monopoly?s mascot. Mr. Money Bags.? The NC Utilities Commission was represented as a straw-man sheriff that wouldn?t do anything to stop Duke Energy until citizens stepped in to stop Duke Energy?s corporate greed.
If the rate hike proposal increases it will be the third time in four years that customers have faced higher bills and would likely see their bills go up around 14%.
AARP Associate Director Steve Hahn and several AARP members attended the protest to make sure that the voices of the 50+ population were heard.? Hahn said ?Duke Energy cannot be allowed to increase their rates again.? It?s harmful to our seniors who are living on fixed incomes .We cannot let this rate increase pass go.?
Photo: Mike Latta, back row center, among the demonstrators trying to stop the Duke rate hikes.
Source: http://states.aarp.org/protesters-stopping-duke-energy-from-gaming-the-system/
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