Lawsuit alleges that Duke Energy paid for rate increase support (crosspost)

[bananas]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2704807

Lawsuit alleges that Duke Energy paid for rate increase support

CINCINNATI (AP) -- A federal lawsuit accuses Duke Energy Corp. of paying kickbacks to big companies in the Cincinnati area to win their support for a rate hike that has cost small businesses and homeowners millions of dollars.

Lawyers who filed the suit Wednesday said Duke has paid as much as $100 million in rebates since 2004 to its biggest customers as part of the scheme.

"They were running a rebate program to the detriment of every other consumer," said Stan Chesley, one of the lawyers who filed the suit.

Chesley said the companies, which have not been identified, began receiving payments in 2004 through a sham company set up by Duke.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OH_DUKE_LAWSUIT_OHOL-?SITE=WBNSTV&SECTION=HOME