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Corporate Utility Accountability

How are political contributions from corporate utility companies influencing Michigan lawmakers?

Taker Badge Top 5 Recipients in 2025
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Michiganders pay the highest costs for energy in the Midwest with some of the worst reliability in the country.

Big energy utility companies, like DTE and Consumers Energy, are heavily involved in Michigan’s politics. They use campaign contributions and lobbyists to influence energy laws and boost their profits. Knowledge is power. Learn more about corporate utility influence in Lansing and urge your lawmaker to refuse utility company money.

Corporate Utility Donations

Donations by Election Cycle

Taker Badge Top Recipients

Average Received

  • Lawmakers $20,488
  • Committees $11,891
Data Sources & Methodology
Total Contributed: $8,241,415

Corporate Utility Giving

Utility companies use many different channels to give money to politicians. They have corporate PACs, employee PACs and dark money non profit organizations. Learn more about these corporations and how much money they give to lawmakers in Lansing.

DTE Energy Company Political Action Committee

DTE Energy Company Political Action Committee is operated by DTE Energy, a monopoly investor-owned utility company that serves gas and electricity to 1.3 million people in Michigan.

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CMS Energy Corp Employees for Better Government

CMS Energy Corp Employees for Better Government is operated by Consumers Energy, a monopoly investor-owned utility company that serves gas and electricity to 3.7 million people in Michigan.

See Contributions

Utility Dark Money

Utility “dark money” refers to political campaign contributions and spending where the source of the funds is concealed, making it difficult or impossible for voters to know who is financing political ads, ballot initiatives, or lobbying efforts. This often involves using non-profit organizations, like 501(c)4s, to funnel money without disclosing the donors.

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