A 2020 political scheme that put fake candidates on the ballot to siphon votes away from Florida Democrats has become a key flash point in a proposed merger between Virginia-based Dominion Energy and Florida Power & Light’s parent company.

As part of its corporate merger review, Virginia’s State Corporation Commission ordered NextEra, Florida Power & Light’s parent company, last week to produce documents related to its political operations in Florida. The utility company was expected to submit those records this week under strict confidentiality rules, essentially keeping them under seal.

One of the documents is a 2021 memo sent by a former consultant to then-NextEra CEO James Robo detailing the utility’s political activities. Observers, including utility watchdogs and shareholders suing NextEra, believe the “Robo Memo” outlines Florida Power & Light’s role in the effort to place “ghost candidates” on Florida ballots to run against Democratic state legislative candidates the utility opposed.