Oversight, policy, ethics outlined in utility ratepayer legislation

By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

State News / Affects local – Protection of families, small businesses and taxpayers from utility rate increases attached to data center development and energy policy mandates are within changes to North Carolina’s Ratepayer Protection Act.

“North Carolinians are already feeling the pinch of higher electricity bills, and we cannot allow massive data centers and unrealistic green energy mandates to make it worse,” said Franklin County Republican Rep. Matthew Winslow.

Ratepayer Protection Act, known also as Senate Bill 730, would bring about stronger oversight of data centers; changes to energy policy; and a measure aimed at ethics and accountability.

(Electricity bills continued below...)

“Data centers bring economic opportunity, but they must not come at the expense of our ratepayers, our water resources, or our energy reliability,” Winslow said. “The Ratepayer Protection Act strikes the right balance – encouraging responsible growth while putting North Carolina families first.”

The legislation is awaiting a move from the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations in the House of Representatives.

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Alan Wooten has been a publisher, general manager and editor. His work has won national or state awards in every decade since the 1980s. He’s a proud graduate of Elon University and Farmville Central High in North Carolina.

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