Civil Rights Museum Asks State To Weigh In On Duke Energy Dispute

Duke Energy could cut power to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in a dispute over an $18,000 credit deposit. Museum officials have turned to the North Carolina Utilities Commission for help.

Museum officials sent a letter to the Commission in April, asking it to block Duke's attempt to collect the deposit and suggesting that the company is meddling in Greensboro race relations and colluding with city officials.

Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan issued a statement Thursday saying the dispute between the museum and Duke Energy is a "private matter." She said statements suggesting the city was involved are "completely baseless.”

Museum CEO John Swaine says Duke turned off the museum's lights for several hours in February, which is the museum's busiest period because of Black History Month. The museum had to issue more than $1,800 in refunds. Swaine says the nonprofit's account is now current.

“To add insult to injury, they are now requesting an $18,224 deposit,” he says. “Paying such a thing would leave this organization quite short on being able to meet other operational needs.”

Swain also says he wasn't properly informed about the disconnect notice. But Duke Energy says it followed the proper procedure and this has been an ongoing issue. Company spokesman Jeff Brooks says the deposit is based on the museum's payment history.

“This customer had experienced this delinquent status almost 20 times,” says Brooks. “This is not a one time event, unfortunately, but it's something that we have to protect against so we make sure that all of our customers who are paying the terms of their account don't have to pay for customers who don't pay.”

Brooks says the company has  supported the museum with more than $120,000 in grants and sponsorships over the past several years. Duke Energy has asked the utilities commission to dismiss the museum's complaint. 

In 2013, the city of Greensboro loaned the museum $1.5 million over three years to keep it operating. The city said it would forgive $1 of the loan for every $1 the museum raised from sources other than ticket sales. According to the Associated Press, the city said last summer that the museum still owed taxpayers more than $933,000 at that point; Swaine has disputed that figure.

Swaine says he would like to see Duke Energy offer a special rate for nonprofits like the museum in the future.

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