"Dark Money: Power Companies' $215m Political Influence"

US power companies have donated at least $215m to dark money groups in recent years, according to an analysis of 25 for-profit utilities. While such donations to barely regulated non-profit groups are legal, a number of utilities have faced criticism for it. Dark money giving to tax exempt groups has helped utilities increase electricity prices, hinder solar schemes and helped elect sympathetic legislators in recent years. Critics argue the dark money spending is kept private, in part to ensure the disruptive transition to green energy happens on the companies’ terms or not at all, and to hinder oversight.