"Duke Energy ignored repeated warnings before a broken pipe dumped tons of coal ash into the Dan River last year, according to court filings Thursday as the company faces a federal judge.

Duke refused to spend $20,000 on video inspections that could have prevented the spill, the filings show. Instead, the company is expected to plead guilty to nine criminal charges that it agreed to settle for $102 million.

Senior U.S. District Judge Malcolm Howard will hear the plea agreement, involving ash-related violations at five power plants, at a 10 a.m. hearing."

Bruce Henderson reports for the Charlotte Observer May 14, 2015. [2]