Consumer Watchdog

Self-Driving Cars Have Miles To Go Before They Reach Full Autonomy, Says Watchdog

By Priya Kantaria, THE VERDICT

February 15, 2019

https://www.verdict.co.uk/self-driving-cars-have-miles-to-full-autonomy/

Companies such as Google’s Waymo are testing robot cars on Californian public roads, and reports to the Department of Motor Vehicles there show that human intervention is needed on average every 14 miles.

Investors Opt Out of Transamerica Class Settlement

By Donna Horowitz, THE DEAL PIPELINE

February 9, 2019

A federal judge has given final approval to a Transamerica Life Insurance Co. class-action settlement for $110.7 million, slashing a proposed $195 million payout after eight large life settlement investment groups withdrew from the agreement.

Judge Christina Snyder of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles certified the settlement Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Bankrupt Utility PG&E Spent $10 Million On Lobbying Last Year (Even More Than Big Oil!)

PG&E spent almost $10 million on lobbying California officials in 2018, surpassing even the Western States Petroleum Association in lobbying spending in 2018. The nation’s largest utility, PG&E filed for reorganization in federal bankruptcy court under Chapter 11 on January 29.

By Dan Bacher, RED GREEN & BLUE

February 4, 2019

Regulatory Update: Gender Ban In Auto Insurance Rate Setting

By Staff Writers, BEST'S REVIEW

February 1, 2019

Auto Insurance: California has issued new rules, which ban automobile insurers from using a driver's gender when setting rates. The new regulations went into effect Jan. 1. The rules bring private auto insurance prices into line with the provisions of voter-approved Proposition 103, which prohibits unfair and discriminatory pricing, said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a California advocacy group.

'Shameful': PG&E is trying to KEEP a $130 million cash bonus program for its employees despite declaring bankruptcy and 'being too poor to pay wildfire victims'

By Lauren Fruen and Jennifer Smith, THE DAILY MAIL UK

January 30, 2019

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6648935/PG-E-trying-130million…

Pacific Gas & Electric, the nation's largest utility company, is trying to keep their $130million bonus program for employees despite declaring bankruptcy. 

Consumer Confidential: Why Are Glasses So Expensive? The Eyewear Industry Would Prefer Keeping That Blurry

By David Lazarus, LOS ANGELES TIMES

January 22, 2019

https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-why-are-eyeglass…

It’s a question I get asked frequently, most recently by a colleague who was shocked to find that his new pair of prescription eyeglasses cost about $800.

Why are these things so damn expensive?

PG&E Bankruptcy Tests Who Will Pay for California Wildfires

By Ivan Penn, Thomas Fuller and Lisa Friedman, THE NEW YORK TIMES

January 14, 2019

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/business/energy-environment/pge-bank…

LOS ANGELES — Pacific Gas and Electric said on Monday that it would seek bankruptcy protection as “the only viable option” as the giant California utility faces billions of dollars in liability claims from two years of deadly wildfires.

Hueso And Other Lawmakers Went To Maui With Utilities While Wildfires Burne

By Jeff McDonald, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

January 13, 2019

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sd-me-legislators-ma…

Sen. Ben Hueso, chairman of the state Senate’s Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, was one of a dozen California lawmakers to join 60 utility executives and other paid sponsors at the Fairmont Kea Lani resort in Hawaii last November.

Watchdog Group Demands Faster Disclosure Of Lawmaker Trips

By Staff Reporters, ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 9, 2019

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article224189000.html

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A consumer advocacy group is calling for California lawmakers to immediately disclose their trips to educational events with lobbyists following a report that a dozen legislators were attending an event in Hawaii with utility lobbyists while deadly wildfires raged in California.

State of California Rules Gender Cannot Influence Car Insurance Premiums

Good news (for some), only variables that can influence your car insurance premiums are age and driving record.

By James Gilboy, THE DRIVE

January 8, 2019

http://www.thedrive.com/news/25832/california-rules-gender-cannot-influ…

The California Department of Insurance announced Thursday that it no longer permits the use of gender as a variable in the calculation of car insurance premiums.

California Blocks Use Of Gender In Setting Insurance Rates

New regulations require rates to be determined only by driving records

By Mark Huffman, CONSUMER AFFAIRS

January 8, 2019

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/california-blocks-use-of-gender-in…

A lot of factors go into setting a consumer’s insurance rate but California officials say rates should mostly rest on the consumer’s driving record, not other things they can’t control.

Gender Inequality In California Auto Insurance Rates Will No Longer Be Allowed

By Bob Egelko, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

January 6, 2019

https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Gender-inequality-in-Californi…

Thirty years after California voters told auto insurers to focus on a driver’s safety record in setting rates, the state’s outgoing insurance commissioner has banned the apparently widespread practice of charging different rates for male and female drivers, regardless of their records.

more

Copyright © 2019 Consumer Watchdog. All rights reserved.