North Carolina Mayor Organizing Opposition to ElectriCities’ Rate Hike
Cities in North Carolina are trying to organize opposition against ElectriCities’ rate increase by creating their own coop. New Bern, North Carolina, mayor Lee Bettis met with county officials and residents to explain how the city was trying to take advantage of the planned merger of Progress Energy and Duke Power. Bettis has been working since last January to organize fellow mayors whose towns are members of the ElectriCities electric utility cooperative. In 2009, electric rates rose 18 percent in New Bern, according to Bettis. The Sun Journal has the full story.