Coalition Asks Duke Energy to “embrace fairness and justice for low-income communities” - No Mention of “Smart” Meter Injustices

By B.N. Frank

For many years Duke Energy customers have been complaining about excessively high bills and the company’s gas and electric 2-way wireless transmitting “Smart” Meters (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).

In 2017, a group of doctors submitted a letter to utility commissions in all 6 states where the company has installed “Smart” Meters. They asked utility commissions to make it so customers didn’t have to pay opt-out fees for refusing them. Most customers are still paying fees but they are different in each state.

Recently, several groups formed a coalition to ask Duke Energy to treat low-income customers better. Fingers crossed they soon also start tackling issues with “Smart” Meters that affect ALL Duke Energy customers.

From Environmental Working Group:

Watchdog group calls on Duke Energy to embrace fairness and justice for low-income communities

WASHINGTON – A coalition of public interest, environmental and economic justice organizations is demanding that Duke Energy, which has more customers than any other investor-owned electric utility, reverse years of company practices that have punished its low-income ratepayers and communities of color.

The Duke Energy Accountability Coalition

published a full-page ad in the April 11 edition of the Charlotte Observer, Duke’s hometown newspaper, calling on the utility to take concrete steps to expand access to affordable clean energy options such as solar energy and efficiency, to clean up coal ash contamination in fenceline communities and to restore power to all customers who have had their electricity cut off during the coronavirus pandemic.

The list of actions prescribed in the ad comes from an order issued by the Duke Energy Accountability Coalition’s People’s Commission, which held a public hearing on January 29.

Members of the commission heard testimony from several environmental and social justice advocates who have worked for years to hold Duke Energy accountable for the environmental and economic harm it has inflicted on underserved communities in North Carolina and throughout its six-state service area.

“The coalition will continue to hold Duke accountable for its misdeeds, which have caused enormous harm, both economic and environmental, to underserved communities throughout its service area,” said EWG President Ken Cook, whose organization is a founding member of the coalition. “Duke and its executives may not appreciate the added scrutiny of their activities, which have adversely impacted its low-income ratepayers, but that won’t stop the coalition from continuing its work to raise these and other issues where Duke has failed to act in the interest of its customers and the environment.”

Duke’s deplorable record on environmental and social justice has long been a focus of local and state advocates. But with the creation of the Duke Energy Accountability Coalition and its People’s Commission, it is the first time organizations have come together to shine a light on the utility’s anti-environment-and-equity policies and practices throughout its service area.

The People’s Commission will hold its next hearing in the coming weeks, focusing on Duke’s ongoing efforts to ignore the climate emergency by stifling its own transition to renewable energy and instead clinging to outdated, dirty and dangerous power generation from coal, natural gas and nuclear energy.

Information for the next hearing by the People’s Commission will be posted here

when details, including the day, time and list of witnesses have been finalized.

Members of the coalition include:

350 Charlotte; 350 Triangle, Appalachian Voices, Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, the Energy and Policy Institute, Environmental Working Group, Friends of the Earth, Kentucky Conservation Committee, NC WARN, the League of Women Voters of South Carolina, NC Alliance to Protect Our People and the Places We Live, and Ohio Citizen Action.

American utility companies have received BILLIONS in federal stimulus money to install “Smart” Meters – electric, gas, and water. Approximately 57% of Americans have them. Despite all of the problems reported – including fires and explosions (see 1, 2, 3) – utilities plan to install millions more because these meters are extremely profitable. “Smart” Meters are 2-way wireless transmitting which allows utilities to remotely turn off services as well as ration customer usage. Utilities are also able to collect minute-by-minute customer usage data with “Smart” Meters. They can analyze this data in order to market more products and services to customers as well as sell it to 3^rd parties (see 1, 2). Seriously!

Because these meters are 2-way wireless transmitting, they also create high levels of harmful electromagnetic radiation (see 1, 2, 3). This has led to numerous reports about health issues in people and animals after these meters have been installed (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). A growing number of Americans want traditional analog meters – not “Smart” Meters or digital meters with the RF turned off. Many utilities now allow customers to “opt out” because of all the complaints and lawsuits.

Some American legislators have taken action against “Smart” Meters for various reasons (see 1, 2, 3). Online documentary Take Back Your Power provides more horrifying details. Opposition to these meters is worldwide.

Activist Post reports regularly about “Smart” Meters and other unsafe technology. For more information, visit our archives and the following websites: