Energy & Policy Institute

"Customers are also paying for everything from your utility company’s trade association fees, to lobbying efforts to increase your rates to maybe, even country club memberships ... In the worst instances, according to legal allegations, you’ve also paid bribes to politicians"

Campaign money? Bribes? Lobbying? Your utility rates may include some, advocates say Even if you're not political, your utility bill may be. Advocates warn utilities may be quietly passing down their lobbying costs to consumers.

Today, CUB, AARP Illinois and the Energy & Policy Institute call for Illinois to pass legislation to prohibit electric, gas and water utilities from charging customers millions for self-serving PR campaigns and rate-hike legal fees. Big thanks to Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton and State Rep Theresa Mah for sponsoring this important legislation. Please urge the General Assembly to pass the Utility Affordability Act (SB 2885/HB 5061). Read our release: https://bit.ly/3wmKDuA Take action here: https://bit.ly/42ERyv8

Decarbonizing the economy will require a significant expansion of interstate and interregional transmission, but Southern Company and Entergy are undermining efforts to expand high-voltage transmission in an effort to entrench their monopolies.

Read more:

Southeastern Utilities Block Transmission Necessary for Decarbonization Investor-owned utilities in the South have spent years undermining efforts to expand high-voltage transmission in an effort to entrench their monopolies.

Governor Joe Lombardo has eroded Nevada’s robust climate plan, one year into his first term.

Governor Lombardo prioritizes gas, eroding Nevada's climate plan Governor Joe Lombardo prioritized gas and eroded Nevada's climate plan, from appointing a fossil fuel executive to the Office of Energy to exiting the U.S. Climate Alliance.

As federal and local governments work to speed the transition away from gas appliances, there is some evidence that gas interests are redoubling efforts to keep gas in US homes.

Revealed: US utility firms offer builders cash and trips to fit new homes with gas appliances Utilities give rewards to house builders to install and promote gas appliances in homes – and enlist celebrity chefs to extoll the fossil fuel

Utility companies are overwhelmingly failing to act on and transition to clean energy, despite their climate pledges.

Is your utility taking climate change seriously? Find out at the link in bio.

The Dirty Truth About Utility Climate Pledges | Beyond Coal The Dirty Truth About Utility Climate Pledges Utilities are trying to greenwash their dirty plans. It’s time to hold them accountable. The next decade is critical to averting the worst impacts of the climate crisis and transforming our economy to run entirely on clean energy. Studies show that unl...

A law firm that conducted Southern Company’s internal investigation into reports that a political consulting firm used by a Southern subsidiary directed private surveillance of Southern’s CEO – possibly with the approval of the subsidiary’s CEO – has its own ties to both the consultant and the subsidiary.

Law firm with Matrix connections conducted Southern Company's internal investigation A law firm that conducted Southern Company’s internal investigation into reports that a political consulting firm used by a Southern subsidiary directed private surveillance of Southern’s CEO - possibly with the approval of the subsidiary’s CEO - has its own ties to both the consultant and the...

Testing New York Apartments: How Dirty Is That Gas Stove, Really?

The answer: Nitrogen dioxide levels five times the safety benchmark set by the EPA.

Testing New York Apartments: How Dirty Is That Gas Stove, Really? Scientists are lugging sophisticated sensors into homes in 10 cities to measure and track the pollution from gas stoves as it drifts from room to room.

People in the South and Midwest who face the prospect of new CO2 pipelines in their communities see what happened in Satartia as a potential warning.

The U.S. is expanding CO2 pipelines. One poisoned town wants you to know its story Companies are building carbon dioxide pipelines as a possible climate solution. But after a pipeline rupture sent dozens to the hospital in a Mississippi town, there are questions about their safety.

Petersburg and Prince George could see more pollutants coming from the methane gas compressor station

Petersburg and Prince George could see more pollutants coming from the natural gas compressor station TC Energy plans to up the horsepower of its compressor station in a city with great health disparities. How will it affect the area?

Xcel Energy is fighting the scheduled sunset of a Minnesota law that enables utilities to charge customers hundreds of millions of dollars for fossil gas infrastructure upgrades without standard regulatory review.

Xcel pushing measure that has raised gas bills in Minnesota, scrapped in other states Xcel Energy is lobbying for an extension of the Minnesota pipeline rider, also known as the Gas Utility Infrastructure Cost.

Ameren Missouri customers paid $1.8M for St. Louis Blues promotion. Only a fraction went to charity.

“The entire setup is ethically questionable and it is frankly shocking to me that this program is included in rates"

Ameren customers paid $1.8M for Blues promotion. Only a fraction went to charity, state says. Ameren gives money to kids charities for power play goals scored by the St. Louis Blues. But it has donated less than $1 for every $11 it spends.