"Utilities-Backed Dark Money Group Sparking Energy Debate in Michigan"

"Though partisan gridlock is the political buzzword of the day, it's another kind of grid that's making political sparks fly in Michigan. There, two powerful utility companies — Consumers Energy and DTE Energy — control the lion's share of the electric grid and appear to be behind a new advocacy effort that coincides with the start of a new legislative session.

Publicly available television contracts — compiled by Political Ad Sleuth — show that a group called "Citizens for Michigan's Energy Future" (CMEF) has agreed to pay $120,000 for 444 ad spots on broadcast TV stations in that state since December of last year.

Organized as a "social welfare organization" under section 501(c)4 of the Internal Revenue Code, the nonprofit group is not required to publicly disclose its donors, as a political committee would."

Peter Olsen-Phillips reports for the Sunlight Foundation January 15, 2015.