Our Mission
Why Now?
Duke Energy uses its monopoly status in North Carolina to block competition, overcharge customers, and avoid accountability. Ratepayers are forced to fund Duke’s lobbying efforts—often against their own interests—with no alternative energy provider to choose from.
Current state laws, like House Bill 951, guarantee Duke outsized control of new energy projects, stifling market growth and innovation. Meanwhile, Duke profits more when projects cost more—so they push for the most expensive options and pass the costs (plus a guaranteed 10% return) onto you.
We’re not against Duke Energy’s existence—we’re for fairness. North Carolina needs more energy choices, more jobs, and smarter, more transparent energy investments that serve the public, not just Duke’s bottom line.
Our Foundation for Change
The No Toxic Money Pledge
The No Toxic Money Pledge is an important signifier to voters, to potential donors, to the media and the public that a politician is willing to stand with the people and reclaim our democracy from the undue influence of powerful electric monopolies, Duke Energy and Dominion Energy. We wish to build a bloc of independent legislators and make it politically taboo to be associated with Duke Energy.
Refusing Duke and Dominion’s contributions frees a politician to take bolder stances for an energy system that serves the people, unbound from ties to for-profit companies that do not have our futures at heart
Energy Market Reform
We support legislation to make North Carolina’s energy system more efficient, affordable, climate-friendly, and competitive.
After reviewing reforms from several states, we’ve identified two strong options for NC:
-
Energy Imbalance Market (EIM):
A low-cost, real-time energy trading system that boosts efficiency and builds on existing efforts like SEEM. -
All-Source Procurement:
Requires utilities to consider all energy sources—including renewables—encouraging competition and lowering costs without disrupting the current monopoly structure.
These reforms lay the foundation for a fairer, more modern energy market
The North Carolina Utility Regulation and Consumer Protection Act
The North Carolina Utility Regulation and Consumer Protection Act would prohibit utilities from recovering costs of political activities such as campaign contributions and lobbying from ratepayers.
North Carolinians should not be charged with funding Duke Energy’s political advocacy, especially when those activities raise their energy rates and harm the public interest.