Progress Energy

Duke To Permanently Shutter Troubled Nuclear Plant In Florida

Julie Rose — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 21:19:55 +0000

Duke Energy says it will close down a troubled nuclear plant in Florida – called Crystal River – rather than try to repair it at a cost of billions. Making that decision has preoccupied Duke and its investors ever since the company merged with Progress Energy and inherited the Florida plant.

Duke Duking It Out With Small Florida County Over Taxes

Julie Rose — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:09:00 +0000

A small county on the Florida Gulf Coast is in a budget crisis because its largest taxpayer is refusing to pay up. Progress Energy Florida – which is now owned by Duke Energy – operates a coal and nuclear power plant complex that accounts for one-quarter of Citrus County's property tax revenues. But Duke Energy only paid half its tax bill last year and this week warned it'll do the same in 2013. WFAE's Julie Rose explains:

Duke Shuffles Executives

Julie Rose — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:02:37 +0000

Another Progress Energy executive is out at Duke Energy in the latest personnel shuffle of the merged companies. A Duke Energy spokesman says changes required in a settlement with North Carolina utility regulators sparked a "domino effect."

Seven top executives are shifting titles and roles in what resembles a game of musical chairs.

State Board Rejects Call For Coal-Ash Clean Up

Lisa Miller — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 22:18:40 +0000

Duke and Progress Energy will not have to clean up seepages from fourteen coal ash ponds, according to a ruling from the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission. Several environmental groups including the Riverkeeper Foundation say the utilities are breaking state rules by not stopping their coal ash ponds from leaking into ground water.

Commission chairman Steve Smith says the vote was 9-to-2 in favor of Duke and Progress.

Duke Settlement Restores 'Merger Of Equals'

Julie Rose — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:30:09 +0000

When North Carolina utility regulators meet Monday at 10 a.m., they're expected to approve a settlement that resolves their investigation into the sudden firing of Progress CEO Bill Johnson shortly after the company merged with Duke.

The settlement calls for Duke CEO Jim Rogers to resign by the end of next year. Critics say the utilities commission is wasting time on personality clashes and power struggles surrounding Duke's leadership switch at the expense of more substantive aspects of the merger that might impact customers.

Duke CEO To Retire In Settlement With Regulators

Julie Rose — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:49:04 +0000

Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers will step down sometime next year as part of a settlement announced late yesterday that would resolve an investigation of the company's merger with Progress Energy. Angry North Carolina utility regulators launched the investigation when Duke's board abruptly fired the man they'd promised would lead the merged company - Progress CEO Bill Johnson.

WFAE's Julie Rose joined Morning Edition Host Duncan McFadyen to sort through the settlement.

Progress Boosts Duke Earnings, Challenges Ahead

Julie Rose — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:55:51 +0000

Duke Energy says earnings in the third quarter rose 26%, primarily because it was the first full quarter to include Progress Energy. That figure slightly exceeded analyst expectations, but questions remain about challenges Duke Energy faces going forward.

The list includes:

Progress Merger Boosts Duke Earnings, But Challenges Ahead

Julie Rose — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:37:25 +0000

The list includes:

Duke Warns Troubled Plants To Cost $280M More

Julie Rose — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:35:47 +0000

The cost to build Duke’s coal-fired plant in Edwardsport, Indiana was already about a billion dollars over original estimates.

Now the testing of new technology to burn coal more cleanly at the plant is taking longer than expected and adding $180 million to the cost.

Duke spokeswoman Angeline Protogere says this should be the last expensive delay for the Edwardsport plant.

“We believe this is a realistic cost for the project,” says Protogere.

Duke Energy Director Details 'Friction' During Merger With Progress

Julie Rose — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 22:05:30 +0000

http://66.225.205.104/JR20120718.mp3