My AI says money was saved by...
New legislation: In 2023, Colorado and Connecticut passed laws to prevent utilities from charging customers for lobbying, advertising, and other political influence activities.
Broader restrictions: These laws clarified and expanded the range of political activities that utilities are banned from charging to ratepayers compared to existing federal and state rules.
Specific savings examples:
In Colorado: State regulators rejected over $775,000 in lobbying fees, trade association dues, and investor relations costs sought by Xcel Energy in a gas rate case.
In Connecticut: State officials disallowed $555,000 in industry dues, travel and meal expenses, and investor relations costs that Avangrid attempted to charge customers during a gas rate case.
/// I imagine Trump will come in and "investigate" the legislation to undo the good