Private companies providing public services — and granted monopoly franchises in exchange for doing so — have captured the regulatory and legislative processes intended to keep their interests aligned with those of the public. The result is growing energy poverty, continued climate abuse and misinformation, and widespread voter disenfranchisement.

Utilities spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year lobbying federal and state lawmakers, agencies, and regulators. This investment influences the pace and progress of climate legislation, cements existing utilities’ market dominance, and of course, ensures ongoing high rates of return for IOUs.