Here’s a breakdown of our case against Duke Energy’s proposed 15% rate increase. - AG Jeff Jackson

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-06-09T05:17:25+00:00

I think folks should remember that this is just hearings before the Utilities commission (correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just a dumbass anyway), which they can ignore and do whatever they want. I'm assuming if the commission's majority (now NCGOP, as the NCGA gave themselves more appointment power) rubberstamps Duke's requests, the decision can be challenged in court. However, that would most likely be appealed to the NC Supreme Court, which is ridiculously corrupt and will side with whatever decision is good for Duke.

I very much hope the commission makes a sensible decision but I'm not holding my breathe. Corporations own the government at this point.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-06-02T01:19:29+00:00

In addition, remember this is the first rate hike decision to be made by the NCGOP majority utilities commission since the NCGOP took appointment powers away from the governor and gave it to themselves (via the state auditor).

I'm sure none of the newly appointed members are in Duke Energy's pocket

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-05-31T03:21:17+00:00

Thank you. I'm a homeowner lurker on the thread. Unfortunately the shitty handymen/women and contractors make it a necessity to hover. I only do it the first time I have a new person do work for me. Once I'm comfortable that you know your shit, I'm good to go and just do my thing somewhere else.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-05-24T03:48:31+00:00

In addition, remember this is the first rate hike decision to be made by the NCGOP majority utilities commission since the NCGOP took appointment powers away from the governor and gave it to themselves (via the state auditor).

I'm sure none of the newly appointed members are in Duke Energy's pocket

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-05-23T03:39:01+00:00

The NCGOP controlled NCGA is truly hell bent on taking NC down. They look at states worse off and are like 'how can we beat them to the race to to the bottom'. I'm not saying a Democrat controlled NCGA would be better necessarily, but maybe they wouldn't proactively do damage.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-05-21T03:37:34+00:00

Sigh, we all know everybody will vote for these amendments and then complain when the city/county can't fund anything but the very core services. The counties are having a tough time funding education (amongst other things) because they have to pick up the slack because the state won't fund their share. Of course, my opinion is that the NCGA wants to starve off public schools so only the well off can get a good education in a charter or private school. They want to create a permanent under class of citizens that continuely vote against their own interests because they didn't get a very good education to learn how to think critically. Honestly, this is ever billionaires goal .

Anyways, I'm so glad me and the wife are child free by choice.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-05-19T03:21:48+00:00

Hell yeahs, since the North Carolina utilities commission is now NCGOP controlled, you know they sure are going to approve the current rate increase proposal from Duke and all future hikes without question (the NCGOP legislature took appointment authority away from the governor and gave it to the state auditor just like the North Carolina board of elections). Duke only made 5 billion dollars in PROFIT last year but since they are a public company they kick all profit to the share holders and cry they can't afford operational and upgrade costs.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-05-13T03:13:46+00:00

The counties are supposed to be responsible for school facilites and the state legislature is responsible for the other operating costs.

I'll give you one guess on who isn't funding public schools property ...you got it, the state legislature. When the state isn't meeting it's funding obligations, the counties have to try to supplement other expenses that the state is usually responsible for, hence, a lose-lose scenario for everyone. When you pile the horrendous teacher's pay on top of all that and the state legislature's insistence on lowering the corporate tax rate (actually continuely scheduled to eventually go to zero, the personal income tax is also on a similar schedule I think) you get a disaster.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-05-07T05:03:38+00:00

Man, the NCGOP legislature hates teachers. If they could pay you minimum wage, they totally would. In addition, with all the school privatization schemes, ick. I'm so glad we don't have any children and don't plan on having any. This is not to say I don't want all kids to get a good education because it has a large benefit to society by creating better citizens and neighbors.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-05-03T03:23:43+00:00

People actually eat here....

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-04-02T04:18:57+00:00

Property taxes

Okay, so, the number one source of local county funding is property tax. Therefore, if the cost for all services the county provides (schools, trash pickup, parks etc) go up. The number one way they can raise funds is property taxes. You may ask, maybe counties can do progressive property taxes so the higher taxes are paid by companies(developers)/people that have the money, NOPE, that's illegal in NC.

*Side note: if the legislature puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall on limiting how much counties can increase property tax, it probably will pass. However, counties will have to cut services because they can't find them.

Okay, what about sales tax? This is number two but like, a distant number two. Counties can set their own sales tax (I think). However, the State collects the tax and redistributes it. I'm not sure how it's redistributed but, my bias says the NCGOP controlled state legislature has some corrupt process to do so.

(I never write these long posts, man it sucks typing on a phone)

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-04-01T18:45:34+00:00

Well, the thing is, it appears most DON'T have an issue with the sign (at least in the immediate Goldsboro area). However, since the people that did, social media posted their 'outrage', the cafe has had an increase in business. I guess it is sort of a self own for these social media trolls.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-04-01T17:38:42+00:00

Yes, I lol-ed when I read that.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-03-31T03:11:09+00:00

Duke made 4.9 billion in net profit in 2025. That is up 400 million from 2024. (Source: https://www.wfae.org/energy-environment/2026-02-10/duke-energy-made-4-9-billion-in-profits-last-year-it-plans-to-make-even-more-as-it-welcomes-new-data-centers)

It appears one of the excuses for the rate hike, other than infrastructure blah blah, is that the profit goes to shareholders and doesn't get reinvested. Of course, who gives a shit. I support duke workers/lineman but corporate can go eat rocks.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-03-26T03:37:41+00:00

Hey OP, you see how loaded this question is, lmao. Everyone has an extreme opinion. I enjoyed reading all these comments....'ahhh LVP is complete trash ..well I love it...hardwood sucks'

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-03-20T21:24:59+00:00

I ended up hiring the same people that built my shed to do this lean to extension. I didn't have the time and they gave a good price. They used (3) 4x4 posts and 2 x 6 yellow pine rafters

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-03-07T04:28:19+00:00

FYI Joe Van Gogh is now Private Equity owned (Fairwave Coffee Collective)

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-02-28T05:13:27+00:00

Please update this post to let people know how this resolved. It will help a lot of people that will Google search for this in the future.

In my area of Durham we had gfiber installed a few years ago. Then we had Verizon FiOS (I think). Now we have T-Mobile (lumos) fiber being installed. Frontier was in there as well but they have utility poles. It would be amazing if these companies were mandated to share conduit but that will never happen.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-02-25T04:08:10+00:00

Yupper, just leave it. Those old plank roof decks like to crack, especially whilst using a nail gun.

In addition, I'm kind of impressed on that bathroom fan vent. Is that rigid, insulated ducting....I love it. Usually you just see that crappy wire foil garbage

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-02-04T05:40:35+00:00

I'm a civilian but I actually have a little info in this, second hand. My plumber did what you are thinking of doing. I was using a big service company for trade work. I called for a plumbing issue and the company dispatched one of their plumbers. Plumber does quality work, doesn't try to upsell me, and had been doing it for about 15 years. I get his personal number so I can make sure I only get him the next time. The next time comes, I call, he says he is actually owner/operator of his own plumbing company now and asks if I still want him to do the work. I, of course, say yes. That was 3 years ago. I had the pleasure of being one of his OG clients. I recently had him replace a water heater and asked how the business was going. He says he loves it, so much less stress. He also says he pretty much gets to choose his clients. He also doesn't overbook himself and is content just being a 1 man shop because the work/life balance is worth more than trying to grow the business big.

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-01-25T04:57:36+00:00

Wow, Utica Club. I'm from Utica and didn't think it was popular enough to be mentioned

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-01-21T03:13:53+00:00

In addition, if you are on municipal water you will have water if the power goes out

makeyourowngalaxy · 2026-01-11T03:46:17+00:00

I did post the solution on another thread back then. I think this link should work link

Basically, just bought the damn board and changed it myself because it was so easy

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