Accountability

SoCalGas and California Regulators Cry Wolf In Report Claiming Aliso Canyon Needed To Meet Winter Peak Demand, Says Consumer Watchdog and Food & Water Watch

August 24, 2016 · Liza Tucker

Brown’s PUC Overhaul More Cosmetic Than Substance

June 27, 2016 · Jamie Court

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2934" alt="" class="right" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/images_govbrown_2.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 120px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="120" height="120" />Governor Brown and legislative leaders announced <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=19461">a series of agreed-upon reforms</a> to target the <a href="http://capitolwatchdog.org/content/special-report-will-leak-porter-ranch-puc-gate-ruin-brown%E2%80%99s-legacy">corruption that's haunted the Public Utilities Comission during the Brown-era</a> and immediately prior to it.

Governor’s Top Aide Needs To Prove Recusal Or Step Down

March 13, 2016 · Jamie Court

California public officals are not allowed to participate in decisions in their public office when they have an financial interest in the outcome. <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/mcfaddenfppccomplaintcpuc.pdf">Evidence uncovered </a>in wake of the PUC public corruption scandal fingers Governor's Brown top aide, Nancy McFadden, for doing just that.

KNBC TV-4 Los Angeles: LADWP Overcharge Settlement Still Cause For Concern

December 22, 2015 · ConsumerWatchdog

Consumer Watchdog has raised concerns that refunds owed ratepayers of Los Angeles DWP, many of whom have already made overpayments, will not be delivered for one year and a half under the best case scenario, while plaintiff attorneys will get paid $13 million in May. Consumer Watchdog's problems with the settlement include the need for immediate refunds, no more threats of disconnections, no requirements for deposits for people who owe back bills, and the need for an impartial standard for whether ratepayers get paid, not whether DWP says so or not.

Judge Rejects Preliminary Approval Of DWP Overbilling Case For Third Time: Calls For Pro-Consumer Changes, Warns Attorneys Won’t Be Paid Until Ratepayers Are

December 22, 2015 · Jamie Court

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-21000" alt="" class="right" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/images_ladwp_logo1.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 264px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="882" height="933" />Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle for the third time failed to grant preliminary approval to an overbilling settlement with DWP ratepayers, calling for more disclosure and pro-consumer changes. He said he would grant preliminary approval if those conditions are met.

KCAL TV-9 Los Angeles: LADWP Settlement Is Bad For Consumers Says Group

November 2, 2015 · Mark Reback

Randy Paige reports on how Consumer Watchdog and ratepayers today urged L.A. city leaders to fix or withdraw what they call a bad settlement over millions in overbilling by the LADWP.

Ratepayers and Consumer Advocates Urge LA Mayor and City Attorney To Pull Back Anti-Consumer DWP Over-Billing Settlement

November 2, 2015 · Jamie Court

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-20963" alt="" class="right" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/images_ladwppressconf11-2-15_0.jpg" style="width: 311px; height: 207px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="1200" height="800" />Los Angeles, CA -- Consumer Watchdog and overbilled ratepayers today urged Los Angeles City leaders to immediately fix or withdraw a “breathtakingly anti-consumer settlement agreement” over tens of millions of dollars in overbilling at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

Is Exxon Trying To Buy Its Way Out Of Accountability Through Refinery Sale?

September 30, 2015 · Liza Tucker

As government scrutiny intensifies on ExxonMobil, the company is apparently getting out of the state. Exxon is reportedly selling its hobbled Torrance refinery in the wake of an investigation into management's responsiblity for an explosion Feb.18 that endangered workers and the community.

‘Apple Lures Labels From Free Streams â€“ And Why Is No One Doing Anything About It’ Shrieks Group

July 22, 2015 · Mark Reback

<h2>Rabble rousers demand FTC, DoJ into Music service</h2> A pressure group in America has urged US watchdog the FTC and Uncle Sam's Department of Justice to probe Apple Music for signs of antitrust violations.

Sen. Franken Endorses Calls For Apple Music Inquiry

July 22, 2015 · Mark Reback

Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) has joined in the calls for a federal investigation of the business practices of Apple Music.

Editorial: Time To Target California Cronyism

July 18, 2014 · Mark Reback

Given the way Washington has run away with itself, it’s no surprise that “crony capitalism” has risen to the top of the agenda for some politicians on the political left as well as the political right. The federal government has become a virtual one-stop shop for corporations more interested in gaming the system and capturing regulations than they are in making a clean profit and an honest living.

DTSC Second-In-Command Under Investigation for Ethics Violations

April 4, 2013 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2013/04/04/31185/dtsc-second-in-command-under-investigation-for-eth/">Listen to or download the audio of this radio broadcast segment here</a>.