Category: Utilities

Utility campaign giving nears $500K as Michigan lawmakers weigh energy bills

DTE Energy and Consumers Energy PAC spending this year favors Democrats, who have a trifecta and have pledged to pass clean energy bills.

/ October 27, 2023

Potomac Edison faces Maryland audit after admitting it charged customers for FirstEnergy’s bribes and lobbying 

Maryland utility regulators ordered a new audit of Potomac Edison last week, after the FirstEnergy-owned utility admitted in a rate case that it owes nearly $1.7 million in refunds to...

/ October 26, 2023

Michigan legislators took $176K from DTE since pledging new era of utility accountability after outage backlash

DTE Energy's contributions to campaign and party funds come as Democrats attempt to pass climate and consumer protection bills.

/ October 18, 2023

Maryland utilities lobbying against adoption of local electrification policies

Maryland utilities Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) and Washington Gas wielded their influence over county officials in recent months in an attempt to halt the implementation of  local electrification policies,...

/ September 18, 2023
Utility Corruption

Avangrid Behind Political Campaign Against CT Utility Regulator

Connecticut utility United Illuminating, a subsidiary of Avangrid, is behind a political campaign targeting a draft decision by state regulators rejecting its requested rate hike. UI has mobilized its own...

/ August 23, 2023

Xcel-funded group urges Minnesota regulators to increase profits for Xcel

Minnesota Utility Investors, a shareholder advocacy group, joins Xcel in pushing for PUC to reconsider rate case decision

/ July 9, 2023

Gas industry dark money group’s influence seen in Ohio budget bill 

Updated on July 4, 2023 after Governor Mike DeWine signed the budget and issued a partial veto of the All Ohio Future Fund that included funding for gas infrastructure. Parts...

/ July 3, 2023

FirstEnergy front group paid convicted lobbyist Matthew Borges’ firm to attack Cleveland Public Power 

This post is part two of a two-part blog series. Part one reveals FirstEnergy’s secret role in funding Consumers Against Deceptive Fees, based on subpoenaed bank records. Part two looks...

/ June 29, 2023

FirstEnergy dark money payments included over $550,000 for ‘consumers’ group’s campaign against Cleveland Public Power

This post is part one of a two-part blog series. Part one reveals FirstEnergy’s secret role in funding Consumers Against Deceptive Fees, based on subpoenaed bank records. Part two looks...

/ June 29, 2023

DTE Energy shareholders reject transparency proposal

Efforts to force utilities to disclose political spending information continue at the Michigan Legislature and PSC

/ May 15, 2023