To: House Rules Members and Leadership,
The NC Council of Churches and our specific energy program, NC Interfaith Power & Light are opposed to Senate Bill 266 because of the moral impacts on decision making concerning the bill shifting costs from industrial customers to other customers. Residential customers, especially low-income North Carolinians, cannot take these increases and were not included in bill negotiations.
Proponents say SB266 will improve electricity affordability, but it does the exact opposite. SB266 allows for electricity rate increases outside of the normal ratemaking process and goes back on the deal agreed to in House Bill 951 (HB951), which was passed with bipartisan support in 2021, by ratepayers, stakeholders, and the utility.
HB951 has resulted in significant economic benefits for North Carolinians, including cost savings for ratepayers, additional reliable energy sources with stable prices, business investment in the state, and new market opportunities. Maintaining the bipartisan law set by the NC General Assembly is imperative to keeping monthly electricity bills affordable for North Carolina’s residents and businesses.
House members should examine the impacts of the changes proposed in SB266 on residential customers before voting on this bill. We would like to see improved protections for low-income ratepayers. North Carolinians experienced some of the biggest rate increases in the US over the last year due primarily to increased fuel costs. Creating new ways for the utility to raise rates on residential ratepayers would make these rate increases worse.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
In Peace & Prayer,
Susannah Tuttle, M.Div.
susannah@ncchurches.org
North Carolina Council of Churches
ncchurches.org (919) 828-6501 office
