News Releases

Senate Confirms Two Latest Appointees To State Utilities Panel

September 20, 2017  ·  Mark Reback

Gov. Jerry Brown’s two latest nominees to the California Public Utilities Commission were confirmed by state lawmakers in the closing hours of the legislative session...

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...

End of Session Hijinks In Sacramento Leave Consumers In Cold

September 16, 2017  ·  Jamie Court

As the legislature ended its business for the year in the early morning hours, legislative leaders proclaimed a prolific progressive session. Not so if you care...

Power Grid Expansion Plan Withdrawn Amid Political Backlash

September 14, 2017  ·  Mark Reback

The late-session plan to restructure management of the California power grid skidded to a halt Wednesday in the wake of growing opposition from interest groups...

CAISO Expansion Legislation Delayed Until 2018

September 14, 2017  ·  Mark Reback

According to Natural Resources Defense Council, which backs the move towards regionalization of western energy markets, Holden has said the issue will likely be revisited in...

EDITORIAL: Shame on Sacramento: Power-Grid Power Play No Way To Run A State

September 14, 2017  ·  Mark Reback

There is just one reason lawmakers try to push through rewritten bills in the final days of the California Legislature’s session each and every September:...

Legislature Pulls Brown’s Electric Deregulation Plan Ramrod After Public Backlash

September 13, 2017  ·  Liza Tucker

Sacramento, CA – A public backlash against Governor Brown’s eleventh hour attempt to give Western energy barons and Trump officials power over California’s energy and...

Consumer Watchdog Testifies That Refiners Continue to Get Rich on Inflated Gasoline Prices By Cutting Production To Reduce Supply

November 29, 2016  ·  Jamie Court

<p>Santa Monica, CA – Advocates from Consumer Watchdog testified today at the California Energy Commission’s Petroleum Market Advisory Committee (PMAC) that California drivers are still paying 50 cents more than US drivers as oil refiners continue to reap double their historical profits.  </p>

Report Finds Big Energy Companies Gave Big $ and Got Big Favors From Governor Brown With Dollars and Decisions Flowing In Close Proximity To Each Other

August 10, 2016  ·  Jamie Court

Consumer Watchdog today reported that twenty-six energy companies including the state’s three major investor-owned utilities, Occidental, Chevron, and NRG—all with business before the state

California Consumers Doomed to High Gas Prices as Feds & State Bless Tesoro Purchase of BP Refinery & ARCO Stations

May 17, 2013  ·  Liza Tucker

Purchase of BP’s big refinery in Carson complies with anti-trust laws means over time gas prices will go up in the state

Toxics Watchdog

February 26, 2013  ·  Liza Tucker

California has some of the toughest environmental laws in the nation, but some of the weakest enforcement. Toxic pollution emissions to soil and water rose...