Latest Energy Releases

Sacramento, CA  - As the California Energy Commission (CEC) proposed a list of oil refinery strategies to Governor Newsom, including key regulatory rollbacks, 51 public interest and environmental groups are urging the state to stand strong on refinery accountability and consumer protection in a letter to Governor Newsom, Senate Pro Tem Mike...

Sacramento, CA - As oil refiners make a case in Sacramento for a bailout, new data published by the California Energy Commission shows oil refiners making 97 cents per gallon in gross profit from California gasoline in April – more than double their historical norms. Consumer Watchdog said oil refiners...

Sacramento, CA --  Consumer Watchdog wrote to Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders today pointing out a new New York Times investigation about the failure of the East Coast regional grid as a cause to shelve plans for a West Coast regional grid that just passed the California Senate, SB 540 (Becker). “An investigation published...

Sacramento, CA – In a bipartisan ramrod, reminiscent of the vote over the first electricity deregulation bill in 1996, the California Senate approved legislation allowing for a regional electricity system that throws out Enron-era state protections against price manipulation and gives the Trump Administration control over California environmental laws. Republican Senator...

Sacramento, CA – At a California Assembly oversight hearing, state regulators revealed new data showing that oil refiners feeding branded stations have made a killing from California consumers and that refiner-reported data about operating costs were overblown. The data provided by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and Division of Petroleum Market Oversight...

New data posted by the California Energy Commission shows oil refiners making an average 80 cents per gallon in gross refining margins from the sale of California gasoline as of February, when a fire at a PBF refinery in Northern California stopped gasoline production at the facility. The growing...

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog president Jamie Court wrote to the leaders of the University of Southern California today asking that it investigate USC Marshall School of Business professor Michael Mische for a violation of the university’s conflict of interest code.Mische published a paper decrying the potential for...

Los Angeles, CA — State oil and gas regulators approved just three new drilling permits in the first quarter of 2025 compared to zero approvals the same quarter last year, according to a new analysis by Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker Alliance. Overall, single digit approvals for new wells continue...

Sacramento, CA –  The California Senate Judiciary Committee analysis of SB 540 (Becker), which would change our electricity market from a California-only market to a Western regional market, cites the dangers of federal preemption of California clean energy laws by the Trump Administration and coal plant managers. The analysis states,...

Since California gas prices are tipping $5 again, it’s time for the latest of oil industry boosters in the media to claim once again it’s government’s fault not the oil refiners.

A new investigative report by Consumer Watchdog explains the sudden reversal by electric worker and corporate lobbyist Scott Wetch to support a controversial energy bill SB 540 (Becker), known as “Pathways,” which cedes control over California environmental laws to Trump. “Once a vocal opponent of California entering a regional energy grid,...

Los Angeles, CA—A new investigative report by Consumer Watchdog explains the sudden reversal by electric worker and corporate lobbyist Scott Wetch to support a controversial energy bill SB 540 (Becker), known as “Pathways,” which cedes control over California environmental laws to Trump. “Once a vocal opponent of California entering a...

Sacramento, CA – Two years after Governor Newsom signed the nation’s toughest oil refiner accountability law, Californians have reaped big benefits by containing oil refiners’ profits and lowering gasoline prices. “California has gotten command and control over oil refiners and it has resulted in savings at the pump,” said Jamie...

Sacramento, CA – Consumer Watchdog wrote to California State Senators today warning them that a pending proposal, SB 540 (Becker) to create a Western regional grid could lead to overriding of key state environmental laws, including the Renewal Portfolio Standards (RPS), which sets deadlines for clean energy goals. “If California’s...

Los Angeles, CA—While approvals for new oil well drilling permits in California dwindled to 73 in 2024–from 2,664 in 2019 when Governor Newsom took office, 2024 ended with oil regulators dropping the ball on requiring adequate amounts of bonding to protect taxpayers from plugging and cleanup in a massive...