News Releases

Public Corruption At City Attorney’s Office Over DWP Misbilling, Self-Dealing & Fraud Leads To Two Resignations

March 11, 2019  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA —  Consumer Watchdog has called upon City Attorney Mike Feuer to fully respond to revelations in LA Superior Court that his top attorneys and special...

Watchdog Report Finds California Consumers Lose Half Of Every Nickel Bottle Deposit

February 28, 2019  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA—For every nickel bottle or can deposit that California consumers pay in the grocery store checkout line, they only get back 2.65 cents,...

Watchdog: PUC Must Go After Giving $6 Billion Credit Line To PG&E Pre-Bankruptcy, Raising Rates

January 29, 2019  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog called for the ouster of the California Public Utilities Commission over its decision late Monday to extend a $6...

Consumer Watchdog: PG&E is No Victim, Governor Newsom Should Appoint Tough Regulator

January 14, 2019  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog said today that PG&E prematurely filed bankruptcy protection to drive a political bailout of the company and gain leverage...

Maui Utilities’ Junket While Paradise Burned Should Spark New Rules For Real-time Disclosure of Lawmaker Trips

January 9, 2019  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA — In a letter to California’s legislative leaders, Consumer Watchdog today wrote that the shocking details of a utility junket in Maui...

Beholden Chris Holden’s Big Utility Tent

December 14, 2018  ·  Liza Tucker

Assembly Member Chris Holden is the point man for Pacific Gas and Electric on its legislative bailout plans over the 2018 fires. That’s why we...

Former Enron Consultant To Be Reappointed As DWP Ratepayer Representative Without Job Review

December 5, 2018  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog called the City Council’s vote to reappoint Fred Pickel as the head of the DWP’s Office of Public Accountability...

Gov Brown’s Culpability For Spreading Wildfires

November 19, 2018  ·  Jamie Court

Governor Brown may not have lit the match that set off the recent wild fires in Sonoma and Napa, but he has responsibility for failing...

Watchdog Calls Garcetti Out On His “Pickel Problem” On #NationalPickleDay

November 14, 2018  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog called on Mayor Garcetti to support a new city council motion by council members Koretz and Bonnin requiring a...

Re-nomination of Current DWP Ratepayer Advocate A Betrayal of Ratepayers, Consumer Watchdog Says

October 26, 2018  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — The re-nomination for a second term of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s ratepayer advocate, Fred Pickel, by a...

California Public Utility Commission Urged To Investigate PG&E and Other Utilities For Blackouts And To Require A Specific Threat Before Shutdowns

October 16, 2018  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog today urged the President of the California Public Utilities Commission, Michael Picker, to launch a public investigation of Pacific...

Consumer Watchdog Calls For Audit Of Tainted Process In Search For New LADWP Ratepayer Advocate

October 11, 2018  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog today called the process of picking a new ratepayer advocate to head the Office of Public Accountability at the...