Utility PAC Spending Falls As Political Scrutiny Rises

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/03/2026) Michigan's two largest utility political action committees (PAC) spent less ahead of this year's August primary than they did during the same period in any of the previous three midterm election cycles, according to a MIRS review of campaign finance records.

The decline comes as DTE Energy and Consumers Energy face increased criticism from candidates over electric reliability, repeated rate increases and the utilities' relationships with prospective data centers.

Candidates on both the progressive left and populist right have also increasingly promoted their refusal of utility and other corporate contributions. U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and congressional candidate Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit) are among those who have made corporate political spending an issue in their campaigns.

Meanwhile, Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (MMOP) is pursuing a ballot proposal that would restrict political contributions from utilities and large government contractors.

The Consumers Energy employee PAC, formerly known as CMS Energy Corp. Employees for Better Government, spent more than $120,000 through the second quarter of 2026.

That is down from nearly $202,000 over the same period in 2022, more than $159,000 in 2018 and more than $142,000 in 2014.

Consumers spent more than $41,000 during the most recent quarter, compared to approximately $94,000 during the corresponding quarter in 2022, $66,000 in 2018 and $77,000 in 2014.

Despite the lower spending, the PAC entered the general election period with more than $203,000 in cash on hand, its largest balance at this point in the four midterm cycles reviewed by MIRS.

"With any election cycle, PAC support for candidates ebbs and flows," Consumers Energy Communications Director Katie Carey said. "However, the foundation of our PAC remains the same. We are engaged in the political process, supporting pragmatic policies that are focused on safe, reliable and affordable energy for Michigan."

The Consumers PAC's largest single contribution so far this year was $2,500 to Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids)' Enduring Majority Fund.

The PAC also gave $2,000 each to 14 candidate committees.

Republicans and Democrats have both received contributions from the organization. Larger contributions in prior cycles went to groups including the House Republican Campaign Committee and former Sen. Wayne Schmidt.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan House Democratic Fund and Senate Democratic Fund have also received PAC money.

"Any PAC contributions to elected officials come from our nonpartisan, employee-governed PAC, Employees for Better Government," Carey said. "All EBG dollars are from voluntary employee or retiree contributions, not customer dollars."

DTE Energy's political action committee also spent less through the second quarter than it did during the comparable periods in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

The DTE PAC spent nearly $154,000 through the second quarter of 2026, including more than $71,000 during the quarter.

That compares with nearly $204,000 through the second quarter of 2022, approximately $242,000 in 2018 and nearly $260,000 in 2014.

DTE's spending during the corresponding quarter totaled nearly $89,000 in 2022, more than $91,000 in 2018 and more than $102,000 in 2014.

The PAC's largest contributions this cycle were $10,000 each to the House and Senate campaign organizations operated by both parties.

Neither utility's employee PAC contributed to Protect MI Free Speech, the ballot committee opposing MMOP.

The proposed constitutional amendment would prohibit utilities and corporations holding government contracts worth more than $250,000 annually from contributing to state or local candidates within the jurisdiction connected to the contract.

The lower PAC spending does not necessarily mean either utility is withdrawing from Michigan politics. Consumers is holding more cash than it did at the same point in previous midterm cycles, while both PACs have continued contributing to party organizations and candidates from both parties.

However, the reduction arrives as utility money has become a more visible campaign issue than in previous elections.

Consumers described the changes as the normal ebb and flow of election-cycle giving. DTE declined to comment.