Over 100 people attended last nights Energy Forum held at OIC, Rocky Mount NC. Some of the States top officials spoke about about areas such as weatherization, global warming and how it relates to the NCMEPA debt and the overall cost of utilities in eastern North Carolina.

ElectriCities is currently looking at refinancing the 2.5 billion debt of which 400 million belongs to Rocky Mount.  Some city officials are against refinancing because according to Rich Worsinger (Director of Utilities) Rocky Mount is now beginning to pay more principal than interest. He thinks it would be a step backwards to refinance now.

Rep. G K Butterfield spoke about carbon caps and auction credits and stated that proceeds up to 35% should come back to eastern North Carolina.

The CFFU stance is plain and simple: it’s all about the lightbill.  Rocky Mount is a Tier 1 area, as well as, most of eastern North Carolina.  Ratepayers are having a hard enough time paying their lightbill now.  Many residence have to make hard choices about where to spend their limited money.  Do I buy food, do I buy my medicine, or do I pay my lightbill?  We believe that  any endeavor that would produce higher rates would be an extraordinary hardship in this area and would be unsustainable both in the short term and in the long term.

The Dancy Communications Network (a co sponsor of the event) filmed the entire Forum and will be on TV soon. Click “on demand” to find the Energy Forum.

see:

Rocky Mount Telegram article.
Dancy Communications Network  DCN TV coverage of Forum