Tampa, Florida – U.S. Congressman Kathy Castor (FL-14) introduced a bill that would prohibit utility companies from using toll payer funds to fund political activities. This includes using “black money” to fund “ghost candidates” and undermine the public interest.

Across the country, numerous scandals and criminal prosecutions involving power companies, bribery and the political use of payer funds demand action.In Florida, damn report An affiliate of Florida Power and Light (FPL), Florida’s largest utility, has exposed a well-documented scheme to fund “ghost candidates.” hire a private detective follow journalists influence the press To mislead voters and influence election results. In Ohio, a massive utility-led bribery scandal led to extortion prosecutions over illegal payments instigated by FirstEnergy. And not to be outdone, Federal Edison of Illinois also agreed to pay a $200 million fine to settle a federal bribery investigation related to the Speaker of the House. These utilities are often busted for trying to block the expansion of cleaner, cheaper energy such as solar power.

“Utilities should be banned from using toll payer money to finance political slush funds. You stole it, but now it’s time to end it.” Congressman Castor said.. “Indeed, numerous civil servant corruption scandals involving utilities across the country require immediate federal action. Utilities will raise electricity prices to fund deceptive political activities and discourage clean energy. We should conduct our business with the highest priority on the interests of the toll payers, rather than on the

You can read the full text of the bill co-sponsored by Rep. Sean Kasten (IL-06) and Rep. Jamal Bowman (NY-16) here. here.

After knowing the FPL scheme, the caster pressed Called for transparency and accountability to protect toll payers who unknowingly fund corrupt political activity, and asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the FPL.

“As Floridians bear the brunt of exorbitant utility bills and our communities face financial crises with each climate change storm and hurricane, the urgency of utility bill responsibility and climate justice. has never been clearer.” Florida For All’s Jackson Overlink said:. “Florida for All is proud to stand behind this measure.”

“This important piece of legislation builds on state legislation to protect rate payers and hold utilities accountable for undermining public health, environmental justice, and the transition to renewable energy.” Howard Crystal, legal director of the Center for Biodiversity’s Energy Justice Program, said:. “Utilities using customer money to lobby against the clean energy they want is outrageous. We should not unwittingly fund public service organizations that work to make our planet a better place to live for our children.”

“All over the country, monopoly power companies force their customers, many of whom can barely afford to pay their electricity and gas bills, to donate a little more to subsidize their own political institutions. The law would protect people from being forced to fund government efforts, and power companies and their industry associations often have to push for policies that hurt families and slow the transition to clean energy. be.” David Pomerantz, executive director of the Energy Policy Institute, said:Utility Monitoring Group.

“Monopoly companies are using our funds to contest our rights to solar power.” Anya Schuylmann, Executive Director, Solar United Neighbors, said:. “This has to stop. Fortunately, several states have passed laws prohibiting utilities from using customer funds for political lobbying. It’s time to protect our business from corruption.”

Supporting organizations include: 198 Method, 350 Bay Area Action, 350 Colorado, 350 Seattle, 350 Triangle, 350ma-Berkshire, Alliance for Affordable Energy, Animal Are Sentient Beings, Inc., Arizona Solar Energy Industry Association, Black Warrior Riverkeeper , CASE Citizens Alliance for a Sustainable Inglewood, Catalyst Miami, Center for Biodiversity, United Church of the New York Women, Indiana Citizen Action Coalition, Ohio Public Utilities Commission, Wisconsin City Public Utilities Commission, Clean Virginia, CLEO Institute, Climate Hawks Vote, Dana Investment Advisory, EbonySuns.comEndangered Species and Habitats Alliance, Alabama Energy, Energy Policy Institute, Environment America, Florida Conservation Voters, Florida for All, Florida Rising, Great Egg Harbor Basin Association, Green Latinos, Green Best, GRID Alternatives, Interface Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), Interface EarthKeepers, Kickapoo Peace Circle, LaPlaca and Associates LLC, Living Rivers and Colorado Riverkeeper, Long Environmental Alliance, Malach Consulting, Media Alliance, MI Air MI Health, Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Action , New Jersey Tenant Organization, No Fracked Gas in Mass, PosiGen, Prosperity Works, Protect Every Child’s Environment, Public Citizen, Public Justice Center, Public Land Projects, Lavago Energy LLC, Recolt Energy, RESTORE: The North Woods, Rewiring America , rootsaction.orgSan Bernardino Valley Audubon Association, Santa Cruz Climate Action Network, SAVE THE FROGS!, Seneca Lake Guardian, Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investing, Seton Hill Charity Sisters, Small Business Utilities Advocacy groups, Solar United Neighbors, Solar United Neighbors Action, South Ampqua Rural Community Partnership, Sowing Justice, Sungage Financial Inc, Suntility Electric LLC, Syracuse Culture Workers, Terra Advocati, Turtle Island Restoration Network, Unite North Metro Denver , United for Action, US PIRG, Vermont Yankee Decommissioning Alliance, Vernon County Energy District, Wasatch Clean Air Coalition, We Own It, We Want Green Too, WESPAC Foundation, Inc., Womxn From The Mountain