Tag: Consumers Energy

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

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

Utility front groups spending on disinformation advertising

The Energy and Policy Institute launched a new tracking tool that exposes up to $2.4 million in spending on advertising by 14 utility front groups in the last year.  Utilities...

/ September 23, 2022

Michigan utilities’ front groups begin misleading ad campaigns ahead of a vote on energy legislation

Two front groups with connections to DTE Energy and Consumers Energy launched a Facebook ad campaign last week ahead of a possible vote on solar energy legislation. DTE Energy’s Alliance...

/ March 30, 2021

Utilities sent $6.8 million to members of Congress who sought to overturn election results in recent election cycles

Three utilities and a trade association have said they are "pausing" all contributions in wake of violence

/ January 12, 2021
Kyger Creek Power Plant

Many U.S. electric utilities plan slow decarbonization over next decade, out of sync with Biden plan

“Net-zero” goals proliferate, but speed, integrity of commitments varies greatly

/ December 1, 2020

Consumers Energy-Funded 501(c)(4) Citizens for Energizing Michigan’s Economy Is Active Again, Promoting Specific Candidates

Citizens for Energizing Michigan’s Economy (CEME), a dark money 501(c)(4) that has received at least $43 million from Consumers Energy since 2014, is promoting at least five candidates who are...

/ August 3, 2020

Major banks announce new policies to help push utilities away from coal

Key Points: Major financial institutions have announced new policies that limit how they do business with companies that remain reliant on coal. Leading financial institutions’ coal exclusion policies assess electric...

/ May 25, 2020
A PG&E smart meter. Utilities are unevenly applying late fees and reconnecting customers who had been disconnected before pandemic crisis

Caught in patchwork of policies and pledges, some utility customers may still be awaiting electricity restoration or racking up fees

A mosaic of state policies and voluntary pledges has meant that the effects of missing a utility payment are playing out unevenly across the country.

/ April 14, 2020