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This is an important subject - there is something deeply rotten in the utility world in the South. There are a bunch of stories you wouldn't think are connected

This is an important subject - there is something deeply rotten in the utility world in the South. There are a bunch of stories you wouldn't think are connected, but all have major utilities in the background. From 'fake news' sites set up to smear candidates, to huge bribes paid via nonprofits, to sham candidates backed by the utility running in close elections, to capital plans that include hundreds of millions of dollars in case of snow in Miami.. I really hope the FBI is working on this; * Ex-Florida senator charged in fake candidate scheme (https://apnews.com/article/miami-senate-elections-florida-elections-e8b70ce3270bd170e37a71ca80b5aaae https://apnews.com/article/miami-senate-elections-florida-el...) * Florida’s dark money playbook: How ‘ghost’ candidate scheme revealed secretive political tactics (https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-dark-money-ghost-candidates-tactics-20211230-7zelkoadffclde3z76ax3cgx3m-htmlstory.html https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-dark-money-ghost-...) * Firm working for FPL took control of news site, let execs influence coverage, records show (https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-fpl-matrix-capitolist-eric-silagy-brian-burgess-20220725-p47y4wufavb4zi3qd4p3fau5ni-story.html https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-fpl-matrix-c...) * Nonprofit funded with FPL cash backed DeSantis’ 2018 campaign (https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/09/06/nonprofit-funded-with-fpl-cash-backed-desantis-2018-campaign/ https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/09/06/no...) * Joel Greenberg alleged far-reaching public corruption in Florida jailhouse interview (https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/09/07/joel-greenberg-alleged-far-reaching-public-corruption-in-florida-jailhouse-interview/ https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/09/07/jo...) * Leaked: US power companies secretly spending millions to protect profits and fight clean energy (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/27/leaked-us-leaked-power-companies-spending-profits-stop-clean-energy https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/27/leaked-u...) * Tom Fanning Southern Company Matrix Scandal: What don’t we know? (https://www.energyandpolicy.org/tom-fanning-southern-company-matrix-scandal-what-dont-we-know/ https://www.energyandpolicy.org/tom-fanning-southern-company...) * FPL’s extreme winter plan would create 'unnecessary' costs to consumers, critics say (https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/business/2022/06/28/florida-power-lights-extreme-winter-plan-unnecessary-critics-say/7686788001/ https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/business/2022/06/28/flor...)

woodruffw 4y ago
Thanks for collecting these. It's interesting that these issues don't (appear) to plague larger utilities like the TVA[1], which seems to be actively exploring and developing renewable projects. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Valley_Authority https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Valley_Authority
- mikeyouse 4y ago
  Yeah, I'm not sure what it is about the TVA -- feels almost like DARPA in a way. Something about the staffing and organization has led to a model utility. They're not without minor scandal occasionally but given the amount of political power they wield, maybe it's the distinction that TVA is government-owned and NextERA (who runs FPL) and Southern Company are both for-profit corporations?
  - micromacrofoot 4y ago
    You can also maybe extend that further to the people behind the decisions to make something private or public. If you're looking to commit crimes, you're probably going to have an easier time in the private sector.
    - SoftTalker 4y ago
      Ha. Well maybe technically. In the government sector, you may control what the definition of a crime is, or maybe you exempt yourself from the laws that apply to everyone else (looking at you, Congress).
  - gumby 4y ago
    TVA is a federal project, not a state regulatory body.
  - Spooky23 4y ago
    Apolitical civil service government organizations are good at sustained operations and incremental growth/change. They are bad at rapid change. The controls they have are reasonably effective at preventing the type of corruption that you see. The coal/rail/electric supply chain is a breeding ground for all sorts of shenanigans for all sorts of people. Plenty of drunken uncles have bullshit jobs in the utility and rail space. That culture permeates into new projects as well. In the Federal space, that kind of crap doesn't fly for long.

woodruffw 4y ago

Thanks for collecting these. It's interesting that these issues don't (appear) to plague larger utilities like the TVA[1], which seems to be actively exploring and developing renewable projects. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Valley_Authority https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Valley_Authority

mikeyouse 4y ago
Yeah, I'm not sure what it is about the TVA -- feels almost like DARPA in a way. Something about the staffing and organization has led to a model utility. They're not without minor scandal occasionally but given the amount of political power they wield, maybe it's the distinction that TVA is government-owned and NextERA (who runs FPL) and Southern Company are both for-profit corporations?
- micromacrofoot 4y ago
  You can also maybe extend that further to the people behind the decisions to make something private or public. If you're looking to commit crimes, you're probably going to have an easier time in the private sector.
  - SoftTalker 4y ago
    Ha. Well maybe technically. In the government sector, you may control what the definition of a crime is, or maybe you exempt yourself from the laws that apply to everyone else (looking at you, Congress).
- gumby 4y ago
  TVA is a federal project, not a state regulatory body.
- Spooky23 4y ago
  Apolitical civil service government organizations are good at sustained operations and incremental growth/change. They are bad at rapid change. The controls they have are reasonably effective at preventing the type of corruption that you see. The coal/rail/electric supply chain is a breeding ground for all sorts of shenanigans for all sorts of people. Plenty of drunken uncles have bullshit jobs in the utility and rail space. That culture permeates into new projects as well. In the Federal space, that kind of crap doesn't fly for long.