FACTS ABOUT THE CONSUMER ENERGY
ALLIANCE
The Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is an association that claims to represent the voice of the energy consumer on electricity transmission and other energy issues, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. They use fraudulent tactics to advance an anti-consumer agenda.
FACTS ABOUT THE CONSUMER ENERGY ALLIANCE
The Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) is an association that claims to represent the voice of the energy consumer, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. They are an astroturf organization using fraudulent tactics to advance an anti-consumer agenda.
A Fake Consumer Group
The Consumer Energy Alliance is a utility-funded, “fake consumer group” that regularly utilizes shady and fraudulent tactics to push pro-utility legislation against the best interests of the energy consumer. In 2023, they promoted the policy agenda of the electric utilities which would prevent monopoly utilities from having to compete to build transmission lines, leading to increased consumer electric bills.
Funded by Utilities
In 2017, a lobbyist for the CEA admitted that utility companies provide more than 1/3 of CEA’s revenue in a given year. The list of utility members includes:
- Ameren Missouri
- CenterPoint Energy
- Dominion Energy
- DTE Electric
- Edison Electric Institute
- Entergy
- Florida Power & Light
- Jacksonville Energy Authority
- Nuclear Energy Institute
- Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company
- South Carolina Electric & Gas/SCANA (now owned by Dominion Energy)
- Xcel Energy
In other policy areas, CEA has acted as a front for utility interests against the best interests of the consumer. During a debate on rooftop solar and net metering, CEA adopted anti-consumer positions and shilled for incumbent monopoly utilities. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse exposed the CEA on the floor of the United States Senate detailing how lobbyists had created a “fake consumer group” to generate false opposition to a policy.
Watch @SenWhitehouse expose "fake consumer group" @CEAorg for creating a "fake initiative" in Kentucky called "Kentuckians for Solar Fairness." The group is supporting legislation - HB 227 - that would kill net metering in Kentucky and take away a homeowner's choice to go solar. pic.twitter.com/JdQdPcA2y1
— TASC (@alliance4solar) February 15, 2018
Harming Consumers
In 2023, CEA supported HB 1420 in Indiana, a Right of First Refusal (ROFR) bill that would prevent electricity transmission competition in the state, burdening consumers with higher monthly bills for decades to come.
The higher cost of electricity will lead to greater profits for utility companies. CEA’s lobbying in Indiana harmed consumers, a state where utility rates climbed at the 4th highest rate in the country.
Fraudulent Tactics
CEA has been caught on multiple occasions submitting fraudulent letters, falsely claiming that signatories supported proposals when the opposite was true. They were caught deploying these fraudulent tactics in Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.
CEA in the News
Their names appeared on letters urging fracking Ohio’s state parks. They don’t know how.
Cleveland.com | By Jake Zuckerman
