Get this, Friend: Michigan residents pay some of the highest energy bills in the country. A Detroit Free Press story just broke that helps explain why. (We know it's not for clean, reliable energy.) 

DTE Energy, the state's largest power company, provides some of the dirtiest, least reliable energy in the country—and just bumped up its rates by 6.4 percent.

So where is all that ratepayer money going?

Instead of using ratepayer funds to benefit its customers, DTE charged its customers an eye-popping $5.3 million to pay for membership dues to shady groups like Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and fund fancy getaways to curry favor with local utility regulators. 

This is the same EEI we told you about earlier this year—the one lobbying to block critical climate action. Tens of thousands of Evergreen action-takers like you stepped up to call for utility transparency and accountability. We got their attention, but the fight isn't over.

EEI is fighting back, and the current situation in Michigan proves there's still more work to be done. So, we're going to push even harder. 

Next up: We're backing efforts in states across the country to make it illegal for utilities to charge customers for their dirty lobbying—and we need your help.

Thank you for your support, 

Courtney Bourgoin 
Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager, Midwest
Evergreen Action

P.S. The fact is anti-climate lobbying is costing Michiganders millions of dollars each year. Even Republican Senator Ed McBroom called the whole scheme "a little obscene." With EEI's fossil fuel influence extending beyond the Great Lakes region, it's going to take all of us to demand utilities stand up for their customers, clean energy, and climate action. Chip in now.