Letter to the editor: Duke Energy's dark prince makes ratepayers paupers

Letter first published in the Brunswick Beacon, 09.24.26

In 2005, NC’s electricity rates were well below the national average. Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley hopes you forgot how cheap electricity was because rates have surged ever since.

Whatley was deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2001-2003. He knew that inflation-adjusted electricity rates had plummeted 32.5% from 1960 to 2005 and that electric utilities wanted to increase profitability. Whatley saw his opportunity — and cashed in.

In 2005, Whatley resigned as Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole’s chief of staff and started The Patriot Group. A public-service organization? Hardly. It was a lobbying firm for utility companies, including Cinergy, which later merged with Duke Energy.

Whatley — let’s just call him “Watt” — spent the next two decades lobbying for higher electric rates. He succeeded, both professionally and personally. After 2005, Watt’s clients enjoyed their first sustained inflation-adjusted rate increases since the early 1980s. Duke earned $5 billion last year. Watt’s Senate financial disclosure reports show up to $445,000 in Duke stock, and a net worth up to $12 million.

In June, Duke sought an 18% NC rate increase. Even in the middle of his Senate campaign, needing every vote, Watt didn’t oppose Duke’s exorbitant rate hike. If he wouldn’t fight it when begging for your vote, what will he do if he wins and won’t need your vote for six more years?

As NC’s attorney general and governor, Roy Cooper fought Duke’s rate hikes. Cooper blasted its recent proposed 18% hike as “unacceptable” and “plain wrong.” Radio silence from Watt.

Cooper doesn’t own or trade individual stocks and called on Whatley to sell his Duke shares. He hasn’t. If Watt wins, he gets richer. Duke gets richer. You get higher bills — or darker homes. Watt will remain a Prince to Duke, which pumped $10,000 into his campaign. To ratepayers he impoverishes, he’ll remain the Prince of Darkness.

Keep the lights on — elect Roy Cooper to the U.S. Senate in November.

Linda Baker

Leland