Detroit, MI - Corporate greed is once again standing in the way of progress, as private utilities are revealed to be secretly funding a network of front groups designed to squash the growing movement for public power across the United States. This anti-democratic maneuver comes at a time when communities are facing skyrocketing utility bills, frequent power outages, and the painfully slow transition to clean, renewable energy – all while private utility companies rake in record profits.

From Ann Arbor, Michigan, to San Diego, California, and St. Petersburg, Florida, residents are rising up to demand a more equitable and sustainable energy system. These communities are exploring the possibility of municipalizing their grids, joining the ranks of the approximately 2,000 public power companies that already exist across the country. These “munis,” owned and operated by local authorities, typically offer lower rates, better reliability, and are directly accountable to the people they serve.

However, the prospect of losing billions of dollars in revenue has spurred private utilities into action. They are deploying a shadowy network of front groups to spread misinformation and undermine the public power movement. This is a clear attempt to protect their bottom line at the expense of the public good.

The latest example of this deceptive tactic is the Ann Arbor Responsible Energy Coalition (A2rec) in Michigan. While posing as a local, grassroots organization, A2rec is, in reality, a puppet of DTE Energy, the deeply unpopular private utility giant that serves Ann Arbor. State filings show that A2rec's mailing address is none other than DTE Energy's headquarters.

Campaign finance records expose the truth: A2rec is bankrolled with nearly $2 million from DTE, its contractors, the utility lobby, and an industry consultant who specializes in setting up these kinds of front operations. This same network helped defeat a 2023 statewide vote to establish public power across Maine, demonstrating the far-reaching and well-funded nature of this opposition.

“The public power movement is a direct threat to their profits,” says Sean Higgins, president of Ann Arbor for Public Power (A2P2). “If this happens, then Ann Arbor is no longer paying them for electricity, so that cuts into their profit margin, so obviously they oppose it.” This blatant disregard for the needs of the community is a hallmark of corporate greed.