When you pay your monthly utility bills, you pay for a lot more than just the energy you use. You pay to build and maintain the infrastructure that gets the energy to your house. You pay for operating expenses, like employee salaries. You pay for the state's energy efficiency program.

And, you might also be helping fund your utility’s attempts to influence climate policy.

WBUR Senior Climate and Environmental Reporter Miriam Wasser joins The Common to talk about the various loopholes that enable this reality, and what advocates are trying to do about it.

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