Duke Energy billing for days without power? Cleaning up remaining downed power lines? If my water comes from Mills River, why can’t I drink it? • Asheville Watchdog
Today’s round of questions, my smart-aleck replies and the real answers:
Question: As you know, many of us residents have experienced power outages as a result of the hurricane. Thankfully though, by this time a lot of us have power restored. Most recall the timeline where we were without power. Well, now the electric bills are rolling out for that period, and some of us are clever enough to look at the energy usage for the days we were without power. Many are seeing some usage for the days we were without. I’ve heard that some people have tried calling Duke Energy about this but are getting no answers about it. While my bill is lower (probably because I was out of town mostly and had the hot water heater turned off for the month) I myself have seen some energy usage on the days the lines were down. I am sure that others would be curious to have this explained, as some are also reporting higher electric bills.
My answer: I believe my household won the award for “Jankiest generator in use post-Helene.” Apparently, ours badly needs a new carburetor and kept surging and petering out at night, leading one neighbor to tell me, “I was really pulling for your generator to make it last night. I was like, ‘Come on, buddy, you can do it!’” It’s not easy being cheap…
Real answer: Duke Energy spokesperson Bill Norton said the utility continues to “closely monitor accounts for customers who experienced extended outages.” Like me, Duke has gotten a variety of questions about billing, so Norton addressed several common billing topics.
Here’s a rundown on each:
Regarding auto-pay: “If customers are on auto-pay, payments will automatically draft on the due date that the customer signed up for,” Norton said. “Customers have the option to temporarily pause their automatic payment by contacting us at 800-777-9898 (Duke Energy Carolinas) or 800-452-2777 (Duke Energy Progress), or by logging into their account to unenroll from auto-pay. If a customer chooses to unenroll, they are encouraged to re-enroll when their situation allows, to avoid any future missed payments.”
Regarding budget billing: “If customers are on Budget Billing, they will still be invoiced their set monthly amount regardless of energy use — just as they would in a mild-weather month when usage is low, or in a cold-weather month when their usage is high — because their Budget Billing is based on long-range average use,” Norton said. “Of course, any lack of energy use due to an outage of any length would be reflected at the end of the Budget Billing period, when we recalculate the next extended period of Budget Billing based on actual usage.”
For AMI/smart meter customers: “For customers with an AMI/smart meter — which are all customers who have not opted out of a smart meter — bills reflect actual usage for the billing cycle if the meter is communicating properly,” Norton said.
“Customers who opted out of an AMI/smart meter may see estimated usage if we were unable to obtain a reading prior to invoicing,” Norton continued. “Once Duke Energy can obtain a reading from the meter, their next bill will be adjusted to reflect actual usage, so it evens out. For those who no longer need an AMI/smart meter exemption, transitioning to a smart meter remains an option and would eliminate this issue.”
If you have a situation that differs from these three scenarios, Norton encourages you to call the appropriate 800 number above.
Downed utility lines and cables remain strewn along roadsides in Buncombe County in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. This one was on the roadside of Old Fort Road in Fairview this week. // Watchdog photo by John Boyle
Question: Here we are weeks after the storm and there are still power lines and other utility lines down around the area, even where power has been restored. Why didn’t the restoration crews clean up the downed lines when they were here? Who will be picking up these lines now? Will Duke pick up all of them, or are other utilities required to get their own lines? When will this happen?
My answer: I’m just happy someone finally picked up the overturned Dumpster near my neighborhood. Although it was great for giving directions – “Just hang a right at the overturned Dumpster, but before you get to the hot tub just sitting by the side of the road.”
Real answer: Norton said Duke Energy crews continue to inspect power lines and cleanup continues for the remaining power-related debris in Duke’s easement areas.
“Immediately after the storm, Duke Energy crews prioritized power restoration,” Norton said. “Hundreds of other crew members have been specifically tasked with cleanup, identifying and removing all remaining Duke Energy debris.”
The cleanup involves any broken poles, power lines, and transformers that weren’t removed during the initial restoration process.
“Please note that most of the wires yet to be addressed are telecommunications wires unrelated to power delivery — that equipment must be resolved by telecommunications providers,” Norton said.
As with most of this recovery, don’t expect lightning speed.
“Given the widespread impacts of Helene on the electric grid and the thousands of impacted structures, this cleanup effort will continue for some time,” Norton said. “We appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to address all remaining power debris as rapidly as possible.”
Question: I’ve seen reports of Duke Power using helicopters to set poles in areas that are inaccessible to equipment. Are the helicopters equipped with augers to bore holes for the poles, or are they dug with shovels?
Duke Energy does employ helicopters to lift utility poles into place in hard to access areas. This chopper was setting a pole into place in the Botany Woods neighborhood in eastern Buncombe County on Oct. 15. // Provided photo
My answer: I would pay good money for a helicopter to come install a new fence to replace my smashed one. I would also pay bad money. Honestly, I would just pay money of any kind so I don’t have to do it myself. Post hole diggers are a form of torture.
Real answer: I went back to Norton for this one, so he could complete the Answer Man hat trick today.
“When appropriate, Duke Energy uses helicopters as an innovative way to set utility poles after a storm in areas that are extremely challenging to access,” Norton said. “But the holes are created by crews on the ground, dug in various ways depending on the terrain, and the poles are then guided into the holes by the ground personnel.”
I’ve seen people posting about this on social media, and it is really cool to see.
“Helicopters essentially function as very versatile cranes, allowing us to lift and move heavy objects and materials such as poles across difficult-to-reach landscapes,” Norton said. “While their use is not common to move material, we sometimes utilize helicopters for storm restoration work to assess damage and conduct other activities because in many cases, doing so is safer and less expensive than cutting a new access road, for example, while giving us access to areas we may not be able to reach otherwise.”
The most important part is, “Critically, helicopters also allow us to restore power faster to impacted customers,” Norton said.
Question: I get four AVL water alerts daily, two in English, two in Spanish. I continue to read them and all the Watchdog communiques, and nowhere does any communication talk about the Mills River reservoir which provides water to South Asheville. I live in Arden, and we never lost water or pressure. Is our water potable? Is it safe for cooking? Once again I feel like the stepchild of Asheville. What is the story on south Asheville water? Since I keep getting the boil water notice, that’s what I do. I know I’m a lucky one, but this is so frustrating not to have any mention of Arden/South Asheville.
My answer: Hey, the city would be happy to send you more alerts every day, if that’s what you’re getting at.
Real answer: This does get a little complicated, and I’ve heard from several readers who are confused about the Mills River plant and their city water situation.
Here’s one reason this gets confusing: The City of Asheville has a water treatment plant (not a reservoir) on the Mills River in northern Henderson County. That facility is functioning fine now, producing about three million gallons a day for Asheville water users.
Don’t confuse this facility with the City of Hendersonville’s water treatment plant, which is also on the Mills River but provides drinking water to City of Hendersonville customers, as well as to the Town of Fletcher (the actual incorporated town, which lies in northern Henderson County). Hendersonville’s water is potable and safe to drink, but Asheville’s is not.
I know this because I live in the Town of Fletcher. I get a water bill from the City of Hendersonville, and my water is potable. But again, Asheville’s water is not potable yet.
So if your water bill comes from the City of Asheville, do not drink the water or use it for cooking or toothbrushing (or, if you must use it, be sure to boil it for at least one minute before use).
Asheville Water Resources spokesperson Clay Chandler has explained on multiple occasions why the water in south Asheville and Arden is not potable yet, so I’ll recap.
In a nutshell, water is, well, fluid, and it can mix in various places throughout the system.
So even though you live down south, and your water is very likely coming from the City of Asheville’s Mills River treatment plant, where it is being filtered and treated, it could be mixing with City of Asheville water from North Fork Reservoir, where the water is being filtered and treated to a degree, but not enough to where it’s potable.
The upshot is the two water sources could be mixing, and you cannot assume that your water down south is suitable for consumption. So continue using bottled water for drinking and cooking, or boil it if you have no other option.
Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. John Boyle has been covering Asheville and surrounding communities since the 20th century. You can reach him at (828) 337-0941, or via email at jboyle@avlwatchdog.org. The Watchdog’s local reporting during this crisis is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-01 08:16:00
(The Center Square) – Taxpayers in North Carolina will face an average tax increase of $2,382 if the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires at the end of the year, says the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.
Results of analysis were released Thursday morning by the nonprofit organization billing itself a “nonpartisan research and educational affiliate of the National Taxpayers Union.” Its four state neighbors were similar, with South Carolina lower ($2,319) and higher averages in Virginia ($2,787), Georgia ($2,680) and Tennessee ($2,660).
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of eight years ago was a significant update to individual and business taxes in the federal tax code. According to the Tax Foundation, it was considered pro-growth reform with an estimate to reduce federal revenue by $1.47 trillion over a decade.
Should no action be taken before Jan. 1 and the act expire, the federal standard deduction would be halved; the federal child tax credit would decrease; higher federal tax brackets would return; the federal estate tax threshold will be lower; and some business tax benefits will be gone.
The foundation, in summarizing the impact on North Carolina business expensing, says the state conforms to Section 168(k). This means “only 60% expensing for business investments this year and less in future years. State policymakers could adopt 100% full expensing, particularly since the state conforms to the Section 163(j) limit on interest expense and the two provisions were meant to work together.”
The foundation says business net operation loss treatment policies in the state “are less generous than the federal government and impose compliance costs due to lack of synchronization with the federal code and are uncompetitive with most other states.”
The National Taxpayers Union Foundation also says lawmakers “should at least be conscious of any retroactive provisions when selecting their date of fixed conformity.” North Carolina is among 21 states conforming to the federal income tax base “only as of a certain date” rather than automatically matching federal tax code changes – meaning definitions, calculations or rules.
The foundation said nationally the average filer will see taxes raised $2,955. It estimates an increase for 62% of Americans. The biggest average increases by state are in Massachusetts ($4,848), Washington ($4,567) and Wyoming ($4,493) and the lowest are in West Virginia ($1,423), Mississippi ($1,570) and Kentucky ($1,715).
Individual wages, nationally, are expected to go down 0.5%, reducing economic growth by 1.1% over 10 years.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The content primarily reports on the potential impact of the expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, relying heavily on analysis from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, which describes itself as a nonpartisan organization but is known to advocate for lower taxes and limited government intervention, positions typically aligned with center-right economic policies. The article uses neutral language in presenting facts and data and does not explicitly advocate for a particular political viewpoint; however, the emphasis on tax increases and business expensing challenges following the expiration suggests a subtle alignment with pro-tax-cut, business-friendly perspectives associated with center-right ideology. Thus, while the article largely reports rather than overtly promotes an ideological stance, the framing and source choice reflect a center-right leaning.
www.thecentersquare.com – By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 21:25:00
(The Center Square) – Authorization of sports agents to sign North Carolina’s collegiate athletes for “name, image, and likeness” contracts used in product endorsements is in legislation approved Wednesday by a committee of the state Senate.
Authorize NIL Agency Contracts, known also as Senate Bill 229, is headed to the Rules Committee after gaining favor in the Judiciary Committee. It would likely next get a full floor vote.
Last year the NCAA approved NIL contracts for players.
Sen. Amy S. Galey, R-Alamance
NCLeg.gov
“Athletes can benefit from NIL by endorsing products, signing sponsorship deals, engaging in commercial opportunities and monetizing their social media presence, among other avenues,” the NCAA says on its website. “The NCAA fully supports these opportunities for student-athletes across all three divisions.”
SB229 spells out the information that the agent’s contract with the athlete must include, and requires a warning to the athlete that they could lose their eligibility if they do not notify the school’s athletic director within 72 hours of signing the contract.
“Consult with your institution of higher education prior to entering into any NIL contract,” the says the warning that would be required by the legislation. “Entering into an NIL contract that conflicts with state law or your institution’s policies may have negative consequences such as loss of athletic eligibility. You may cancel this NIL agency contract with 14 days after signing it.”
The legislation also exempts the NIL contracts from being disclosed under the state’s Open Records Act when public universities review them. The state’s two ACC members from the UNC System, Carolina and N.C. State, requested the exemption.
“They are concerned about disclosure of the student-athlete contracts when private universities don’t have to disclose the student-athlete contracts,” Sen. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, told the committee. “I feel very strongly that a state university should not be put at a disadvantage at recruitment or in program management because they have disclosure requirements through state law.”
Duke and Wake Forest are the other ACC members, each a private institution.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the legislative development regarding NIL (name, image, and likeness) contracts for collegiate athletes in North Carolina. It presents facts about the bill, committee actions, and includes statements from a state senator without using loaded or emotionally charged language. The piece neutrally covers the issue by explaining both the bill’s purpose and the concerns it addresses, such as eligibility warnings and disclosure exemptions. Overall, the article maintains a factual and informative tone without advocating for or against the legislation, reflecting a centrist, unbiased approach.
SUMMARY: Donald van der Vaart, a former North Carolina environmental secretary and climate skeptic, has been appointed to the North Carolina Utilities Commission by Republican Treasurer Brad Briner. Van der Vaart, who previously supported offshore drilling and fracking, would oversee the state’s transition to renewable energy while regulating utility services. His appointment, which requires approval from the state House and Senate, has drawn opposition from environmental groups. Critics argue that his views contradict clean energy progress. The appointment follows a controversial bill passed by the legislature, granting the treasurer appointment power to the commission.
