The U.S Consumer Coalition (USCC), a nationwide advocacy and watchdog group, launched a Fair Energy Initiative on March 30, pledging “to be a powerful voice for all Americans faced with a complex and changing energy industry.”
USCC said it hopes to start a dialogue across with state and federal officials, the media, energy experts, and consumers to ensure that “energy industry practices are fair, protect choice, and lower costs.”
"In any family or business budget, the cost of energy is a major expense that continues to rise," said USCC President Brian Wise, adding, "As the industry changes and innovative products emerge, consumers will benefit from a more level playing field. More competition in the market coming from expanding sources of energy will lower costs and provide reliable energy for all Americans."
The first issue the initiative said it would tackle is the “unfair practice of energy companies passing the costs for electric vehicle charging stations on to ratepayers who don't use them.”
"Most consumers have no idea that the plan from the utility industry is to pass the bill for what will ultimately be billions of dollars in new infrastructure along to consumers who can't afford electric vehicles," said Wise. "Hard-working Americans shouldn't be paying to charge some Hollywood celebrity's Tesla. That isn't fair."
The US Consumer Coalition believes that excessive regulation, restrictions on the development of new sources of energy, and special interest politics adversely affect America's consumers by driving up energy prices, stifling innovation, and restricting research and development in the industry.
The organization also hopes that promoting fairer energy policies that expand innovation and choice will also strengthen national security and stimulate a robust economy.
"Americans deserve energy that is reliable, sustainable and affordable," said Wise. "The best way to do that is to inform and activate America's consumers to ensure we have an energy future that embraces competition, and a diversified marketplace for production and distribution."
