Duke Energy's political contributions and the high rate of former government officials transitioning into lobbying roles suggest a deep embedding in political networks. This revolving door practice can undermine democratic oversight and increase corporate leverage in policymaking, aligning with patterns that favor authoritarian consolidation of power.

Duke Energy Profile: Summary • OpenSecrets

The fine and the associated violations highlight Duke Energy's failure to adhere to essential cybersecurity and infrastructure protection standards. This negligence in business practices and lack of robust internal controls points to a serious lapse in ethical responsibility, which is critical in an industry charged with maintaining public safety and reliability in critical infrastructure.

U.S. Energy Firm Fined $10 Million for Security Failures - SecurityWeek

Duke Energy’s sizable donations, notably the $630,000 directed to the Republican Governors Association and additional funds routed through political trade associations, are financing attack ads that utilize inflammatory and divisive messaging. Such support for political groups employing authoritarian-leaning tactics is highly concerning from an anti-fascist perspective, as it may contribute indirectly to the promotion of extremist rhetoric.

Big Duke Energy dollars are flowing to attacks in the NC governor's race

The policy demonstrates Duke Energy's commitment to transparent and responsible political expenditures by establishing oversight committees and clear guidelines. This approach minimizes the potential misuse of corporate funds for partisan ends and supports democratic processes, thus contributing positively from an anti-fascist perspective.

Political Expenditures

The reported PAC contributions of $1,661,149 demonstrate Duke Energy's engagement in politically influential spending. Such corporate political financing is concerning from an anti-fascist perspective as it can entrench corporate power and potentially sway political outcomes in favor of established, authoritarian-leaning interests.

PAC Profile: Duke Energy – OpenSecrets

Duke Energy's substantial monetary contributions, including over $4.2 million given to political groups and targeted PAC donations, exhibit a strategic effort to shape state policy in a manner that favors its corporate interests. This significant infusion of political spending not only undermines transparent democratic processes but also prioritizes corporate profit over public welfare, especially in the realm of energy regulation and environmental protection.

Duke Energy is huge political donor in NC: Is it a conflict? | Raleigh News & Observer

Duke Energy's extensive financial contributions, including over $4 million in direct political donations and additional spending via lobbying and dark money channels, point to a heavy-handed influence on political processes. This behavior is assessed as promoting conditions favorable to authoritarian influences, particularly given the firm's tendency to favor Republican initiatives, thereby undermining democratic accountability.

Where Duke Energy spends money on NC political contributions

Duke Energy's significant lobbying expenditure of $3,760,000 in 2021 suggests a strong investment in influencing public policy. From a left-leaning perspective, such large-scale lobbying is concerning as it may facilitate regulatory capture and undermine progressive reforms intended to curb corporate influence in politics, potentially supporting authoritarian tendencies.

Duke Energy Lobbyists • OpenSecrets

The cybersecurity lapses involved critical cyber assets and underscore a failure in safeguarding technology and infrastructure. This negligence not only jeopardizes utility operations but also creates vulnerabilities that could be exploited by state actors or organized groups, highlighting a risk factor contrary to public safety and democratic norms.

Duke fined $10M for cybersecurity lapses since 2015