Utility Corruption

FERC issues Notice of Inquiry to understand how it can protect customers from subsidizing trade association political activities

Federal energy regulators issued questions to the public last week as part of a process they may use to make it more difficult for the nation’s electric and gas utilities...

/ December 20, 2021

Xcel Ramps Up Municipal Spending in Hometown Mayoral Election

Utility executives and lobbyists gave thousands to Mayor Jacob Frey, who won his re-election

/ December 16, 2021

Southwest Gas aims to make customers pay for its American Gas Association membership dues

Southwest Gas Corporation is asking Nevada regulators to allow it to charge its customers in Nevada hundreds of thousands of dollars in dues to support the gas utility’s membership in...

/ December 15, 2021

Records Show Senior Florida Power & Light Execs Closely Connected to Election Scandals

In the midst of Florida Power & Light’s push to dismantle a key rooftop solar policy in the state, new documents reveal that senior executives at the utility are closely...

/ December 6, 2021
cheap renewable energy erodes the value of carbon capture

Major investors warn utilities against carbon capture and offsets

Utilities should “focus primarily on minimising the use of fossil fuels and particularly coal”

/ December 2, 2021

CenterPoint Energy Hinges Future on Gas Expansion Despite Net-Zero Pledge

Executives told analysts that they expect to add 800 miles of new gas pipeline annually

/ November 29, 2021

American Electric Power-backed dark money group spent over $1.5 million in 2020

Empowering Ohio’s Economy, a group funded solely by American Electric Power, contributed more than $1.5 million to dark money groups in 2020, according to the organization’s tax filings. The source...

/ November 22, 2021
Alabama Power Headquarters building

Alabama Power to buy Calhoun plant despite rising gas prices

Purchase risks bill increases for customers, comes in spite of parent company's climate goal

/ November 22, 2021

Who knew about bribes paid during FirstEnergy Solutions’ bankruptcy and House Bill 6 bailout campaign?

FirstEnergy Solutions’ board and management knew about plans to contribute $40 million to Generation Now, a 501(c)(4) group associated with then Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, in the midst of...

/ November 16, 2021

NextEra spent $20 million to “ban” clean energy transmission project in Maine

Voters in Maine approved “Question 1” on the November ballot, in an effort to ban a 145 mile transmission line needed to carry hydropower from Quebec to help meet Massachusetts’...

/ November 3, 2021