CAN THE PICKEL!
If Fred Pickel is supposed to be the public’s Ratepayer Advocate against LADWP, he sure hasn’t been acting like it.
Accountability
Consumer Advocacy Groups Want LADWP’s Official Watchdog Fired. Here’s Why
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
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
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
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
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...
April 27th Letters: Let the sunshine in on PUC’s San Onofre deal
<h4>Let the sunshine in on PUC’s San Onofre deal</h4>
<p style="">The California Public Utilities Commission votes Thursday on releasing vital records showing whether the government secretly helped Southern California Edison stick ratepayers with 70 percent of a $4.7 billion bill for the flawed San Onofre nuclear power plant.</p>
FTC To Focus on Consumer Injury, Minimizing Paperwork Requests to Companies
<p style="font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(17, 17, 17);"><span style="font-kerning: none">Washington --The Federal Trade Commission will focus on fraud and be judicious in making paperwork requests when it opens an investigation into a company, acting FTC Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen said in a speech on Thursday.</span></p>
LADWP Customer Bill Of Rights Nothing But Paper Without Overhaul Of Utility Bureaucracy And Independent Ratepayer Voice To Hold DWP Accountable
<p><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: 200px; height: 212px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="882" height="933" />Santa Monica, CA -- The LADWP’s pledge to give customers a bill of rights is a step forward, but the LADWP remains in need of a major bureaucratic overhaul, Consumer Watchdog said today.</p>
Consumer Watchdog Tells LA Mayor That Ratepayers Should Be Paid Interest On Money DWP Owes in Overbilling Scandal And Calls For Transparency About DWP Problems
<p><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: 200px; height: 212px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="882" height="933" />Santa Monica, CA -- Consumer Watchdog wrote Mayor Eric Garcetti today that last-minute revisions to a DWP ratepayer overbilling settlement now boost attorneys’ fees 46 percent to $19 million from $13 million, but shortchange ratepayers who should be paid interest on refunds owed them for three years.</p>
KCBS TV-2 Los Angeles, CA: LADWP Overcharge Refunds Delayed Again
<p>LADWP ratepayers who were misbilled and overcharged will have to wait until mid-2017 to get their refunds, in yet another delay.</p>
Misbilled LA DWP Ratepayers Denied $44 Million In Refunds Until Mid 2017 Despite Pledge Of 2016 Payments
<p><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: 200px; height: 212px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="882" height="933" />Santa Monica, CA — Consumer Watchdog today said that court filings by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power showing misbilled ratepayers will have to wait until mid-2017 to get $44 million in refunds are unacceptable and Mayor Garcetti should act immediately to pay ratepayers back. </p>