The Town of La Grange filed a declaratory judgment action in Lenoir County Superior Court, asking the Court to review Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order No. 124. The filing also asks the court to enter a declaration that Section 1 of the order unlawfully interferes with the ability of utility service providers to exercise their own discretion and judgment in collecting charges for utility services provided to their customers.

“This case is not about disconnecting customers,” said Town Manager John Craft, “it’s about preserving the Town’s ability and discretion to operate its electric system in a manner that balances the needs of customers undergoing financial difficulties with the Town’s obligation to maintain the fiscal health of its system and meet its debt service obligations.”

“Small cities and towns in rural North Carolina that provide utility services, such as electricity and water/sewer, cannot survive extended government overreach enacted by Executive Order 124,” said Representative Chris Humphrey.