Accountability

Consumer Watchdog Decries LADWP Transfer Of $242 Million From Ratepayers To City Budget Without Voter Approval

November 27, 2017  ·  Jamie Court

Santa Monica, CA — The Board of Water and Power Commissioners for LADWP has put on its agenda a Tuesday vote to transfer nearly $242...

Big Oil’s Hush Money

November 17, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

No matter how you look at it, from a sham trading system to “cut” climate-warming emissions to consumers gouged at the pump, Big Oil has us over...

Scrapping Of Ventura Natural Gas Plant Is A Win For Consumers

October 17, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

Consumers just scored a victory with NRG’s announcement that it is pulling the plug on a natural gas power plant in Ventura. The Houston utility had contracted...

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly From Brown’s Pen

October 17, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

Consumers looking for bold action this year on laws protecting their wallets from rapacious drug companies, their privacy from the prying eyes of telecom companies,...

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Just Sold Los Angeles Down The Aqueduct

October 11, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

Mayor Eric Garcetti just sold out Los Angeles by pushing through the Delta Tunnels. Two of his five appointees to the Metropolitan Water District (MWD),...

Seriously, Will Governor Sign A Bill Benefitting Just One Developer And His Sister?

October 9, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

Every day, we have been scanning Governor Jerry Brown’s legislative updates. So far, he hasn’t signed SB 634, a bill with the innocuous, sleepy-sounding name of...

CAN THE PICKEL!

September 27, 2017  ·  John Ennis

If Fred Pickel is supposed to be the public’s Ratepayer Advocate against LADWP, he sure hasn’t been acting like it.

Consumer Advocacy Groups Want LADWP’s Official Watchdog Fired. Here’s Why

September 20, 2017  ·  Mark Reback

Several groups have gathered at Los Angeles City Hall today to call for the firing of an official watchdog charged with fighting for the interests...

Consumer Watchdog Kicks Off Campaign To Fire LADWP Ratepayer Advocate Fred Pickel

September 18, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

Santa Monica, CA — Consumer Watchdog, Food & Water Watch, DWP ratepayers and other advocacy groups rally today in front of City Hall to urge...

Consumer Watchdog Calls On LA City Council To Fire LADWP Ratepayer Advocate Based On His Backing Of Delta Tunnels

August 29, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — The Los Angeles City Council should reject a recommendation by Fred Pickel, Director of the Office of Public Accountability at the...

Consumer Watchdog Calls On LA City Council President To Appoint Consumer Advocate To Find Next Ratepayer Advocate, Says Pickel Failed LADWP Customers

July 25, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

Santa Monica, CA—Consumer Watchdog today urged City Council President Herb Wesson to name a consumer advocate to the citizens’ committee that will nominate the next...

Amazon Slime: Amazon’s New Consumer Deception

June 12, 2017  ·  John M. Simpson

Two Consumer Watchdog reports show that Amazon is deceiving its customers by putting fake crossed-out prices next to its products.  It’s a deceptive marketing ploy...