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.

Rather than push for increased scrutiny of surcharges by utility commissions, some state legislators have exploited the surcharge mechanism to fund public policy programs — loading costs onto utility bills to bypass the appropriations process and avoid public accountability for spending decisions.

Energy bills have become everything bagels… just not the good kind. Delivered to your mailbox every month, topped with loads of items you’ve never heard of, didn’t opt into, and can’t opt out of. These toppings, which tend to fall disproportionately on low-income households, are more than just annoying and expensive — they’re rate hikes without rate hike approval.