Matt Maddock, a Michigan state representative, made several posts on March 17, 2026, alleging misuse of ratepayer funds by utility companies and criticizing political donations tied to energy policies.
In a tweet posted at 11:47 a.m. UTC, Maddock claimed: “Half of your electric bill is paying for environmental justice, solar and wind scams and political donations mostly to democrats. And you’re also paying others people’s bill freeloading the welfare system.”
Later that day at 12:09 p.m. UTC, he added: “Imagine stopping all this fraud. It’s enough to eliminate the federal income tax. Dems will never do it because this money (made by hard working Americans) supports them and the communists all over the world.”
At 3:02 p.m. UTC, Maddock further stated: “DTE and Consumers have spent like a billion dollars in political donations using ratepayer money. It’s a total scam and they should not be able to use our money in politics.”
DTE Energy and Consumers Energy are two major utility providers in Michigan. In recent years, both companies have faced scrutiny regarding their political contributions and how those expenditures are funded. There is ongoing debate over whether ratepayer funds are used directly or indirectly for political activities, with regulators monitoring such practices to ensure compliance with state laws.
Maddock’s comments reflect broader concerns among some policymakers about transparency in utility spending and the influence of corporate donations on public policy decisions.
