Utilities for All: The People’s Playbook to Ending Debt & Shutoffs
We created this guide to help utility justice advocates take direct steps to end shutoffs and utility debt. The strategies detailed are the synthesis of key lessons learned from 16 brilliant organizers and activists fighting for the right to clean, affordable, reliable energy and water.
Download the playbook for tactics and strategies to achieve a just and equitable utility system for all.
Current energy and water systems are failing us–but there’s a way out.
Too often, corporate shareholder profits are prioritized over providing affordable, clean energy and water to our communities. While profits break records, millions have their power and water shut off, and accumulate debt turning these essential services back on.
Local, democratic control of these utility systems will allow us to take collective responsibility of living in harmony with natural ecosystems and stewarding life-affirming energy and water systems.
To reach our vision, we’ll need to leverage people power to stop current, direct harms by banning shutoffs, ending utility debt, and making utilities more affordable.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Thank you to collaborators and allies who have spent countless hours outlining, interviewing, analyzing, and researching to develop the final product.
Thank you to the Union for Concerned Scientists for funding the work of the committee. You can find more about their work at www.ucs.org.
Many intelligent brains, dedicated
hands, and detailed eyes have
contributed to the creation of this
playbook.
Anchor and Primary Writer: Erica
Flores
Project Developers & Writers: Gail
Francis, Jessica Tovar, Alyssa Garza,
Mary Grant
Reviewers: Crystal Huang, Gabriela
Sarri-Tobar, Gail Francis, Jessica
Tovar, Maria Stamas, Mary Grant,
Philippa Rizopoulos, Selena
Feliciano, Don Ferber, Erin Rose,
Laura Betts, Candice Fortin and
Shelby Green
Interviewees: Abby Ulman, Bridget
Vial, Rev. Calvin Skinner, Constance
Slider Pierre, DeeDee Belmares,
Greg Harman, Jean Su, Kameron
Hurt, Mariel Thuraisingham, Rev.Michael Malcom, Monica Lewis-
Patrick, Natalia Brown, NayyirahShariff, Nick Goodell, Rianna Eckel,
and Sarah Alvarez
Designer: Jason Killinger
ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PLAYBOOK:
350.org
Candice Fortin
Alabama Interfaith
Power and Light
Reverend Michael
Malcom
Baltimore Right
to Water Coalition
Rianna Eckel
Catalyst Miami
Natalia Brown
Center for Biological
Diversity
Jean Su, Gabriela
Sarri-Tobar
Cleo Institute
Laura Betts
Deceleration
Greg Harman
Energy and
Policy Institute
Shelby Green
Flint Rising
Nayyirah Shariff
Front and Centered
Mariel Thuraisingham
Food & Water Watch
Rianna Eckel, Mary
Grant
Knoxville Water and
Energy for All Coalition
Reverend Calvin
Skinner
Local Clean
Energy Alliance
Jessica Tovar
Los Angeles Alliance
for a New Economy
(LAANE)
Kameron Hurt
Michigan
Environmental
Justice Coalition
Bridget Vial
Outlier Media
Sarah Alvarez
Partners for Dignity
& Rights
Philippa Rizopoulos
Public Citizen
DeeDee Belmares
RE-AMP Network
Gail Francis
Sierra Club
Don Ferber
Solar United
Neighbors
Alyssa Garza
Stop the Shutoffs
Committee
Nick Goodell
The People’s Justice
Council Reverend
Michael Malcom
The Utility
Reform Network
Constance Slider
Pierre
Three Cubed
Erin Rose
We Power DC
Abby Ulman
We the People
of Detroit
Monica
Lewis-Patrick
