Sunday, January 6, 2013

N.C. Advocacy Groups Throwing Tantrum Over McCrory Regulator Picks



Leftist advocacy groups are losing their minds.  Governor Pat McCrory was just sworn into office and they are already demanding he recuse himself from making appointments to the N.C. Utility Commission:

North Carolina advocacy groups want Governor Pat McCrory to leave selection of new state utilities regulators to others because of his nearly 30 years at what is now the country's largest electric company.

The clean energy group N.C. WARN and the state branch of the AARP said Friday they're asking McCrory to recuse himself from selections of several members of the North Carolina Utilities Commission.

The groups say McCrory faces an unprecedented conflict of interest since his former employer is Duke Energy Corp., which provides electricity to the vast majority of the state's consumers.Charlotte-based Duke Energy last summer took over Raleigh-based Progress Energy and grew into the country's largest electric company.

McCrory spokesman Chris Walker said the incoming governor plans to execute the powers of his office.

This is laughable.  By law, the Governor picks the regulators.  If Gov. McCrory recuses himself, who will then make the appointments?  N.C. Warn and the AARP?  I'm sure they're all for it.  

Here is a brief history and description of the oldest regulatory agency in North Carolina:

History

The North Carolina Utilities Commission is an agency of the State of North Carolina created by the General Assembly to regulate the rates and services of all public utilities in North Carolina. It is the oldest regulatory body in state government. The present Commission evolved from the Railroad Commission which was created in 1891 and given authority to regulate railroad, steam boat, and telegraph companies.

Today, the Commission regulates electric, telephone (including payphone service and shared tenant service), natural gas, water, wastewater, water resale, household goods transportation, busses, brokers, and ferryboats. To a limited degree, the Commission regulates electric membership corporations, small power producers, and electric merchant plants. The Commission is also responsible for administering programs in North Carolina to ensure the safety of natural gas pipelines. The Commission does not regulate telephone membership corporations, cable TV, satellite, commercial mobile radio service, cellular, pagers, or data and internet service providers.

Description

The Commission has seven members who serve eight-year terms. Appointments are made by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly by joint resolution. The Governor also designates a Chairman to serve a four-year term. The Chairman serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of the Commission and as a member of the Agency for Public Telecommunications Board and the Geographic Information Coordinating Council. The standards of judicial conduct provided for judges in Article 30 of Chapter 7A of the General Statutes apply to members of the Commission. Members of the Commission are prohibited by law from engaging in any other employment, business, profession, or vocation while in office.

So, should the General Assembly recuse themselves as well, because they’re Republicans?  What should happen if the General Assembly passes energy legislation?  Should Gov. McCrory recuse himself as well?  These libtards are hilarious!



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