News Releases

20+ Groups Decry CA Oil Refiners’ Average $1 Per Gallon Profit Margin In 2023, Call On CEC To Implement Price Gouging Penalty By Summer To Avoid More Gouging

March 18, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA —  More than twenty public interest groups pointed to new state data showing that California oil refiners averaged more than $1 per gallon in...

New Consumer Alert Exposes Deceptive Oil Industry Attack On Governor Newsom

February 23, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog released a new Consumer Alert video exposing another deceptive oil industry tv ad attacking on Governor Newsom’s energy policies called “Make Matters Worse.” ...

Friedman Introduces Bill to Hold Oil Drillers Financially Liable for Harm Caused by Their Drilling 

February 21, 2024  ·  Kerri West

Sacramento, CA – While it has long been known that oil drilling can cause cancer, respiratory illnesses and birth defects, holding oil drillers liable for the...

Consumer Alert Video Exposes Phony, Chevron-Funded TV Ad That Falsely Claims CA Oil Drilling Is Needed To Lower Gas Prices, Targets Chevron’s 3 Barrel Per Day Oil Production

February 15, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA – Consumer Watchdog published a new Consumer Alert video today taking on a deceptive television ad by a group called Californians For Energy Independence,...

CRC Play To Buy Aera Is Way To Avoid Plugging Idle Wells, Extending Life Of Depleted Oil Fields Via Unproven Technology, Say Consumer Watchdog and FrackTracker Alliance

February 7, 2024  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA—Oil giant California Resources Corp’s purchase of Aera Energy for just half the price it fetched two years ago is a ploy for...

Chevron Self-Inflicts Wound In CA; Failed to Plug Low Producing Wells That Yield Only 3 Barrels Of Oil Per Day, Should Blame Itself Not State For ‘Impairments’ 

February 2, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA — Consumer Watchdog said that Chevron has itself to blame for its $1.8 billion in “higher US upstream impairment charges mainly in...

Energy Commission Delays Price Gouging Penalty Recommendation; Consumer Watchdog Calls for Governor Newsom To Force Penalty ASAP

January 31, 2024  ·  Jamie Court

 Sacramento, CA — Consumer Watchdog today condemned the delay in the implementation of a price gouging penalty as articulated by the California Energy Commission (CEC)...

Oil Drilling Permit Approvals Cratered In 2023; Plummeting Production Calls for Plugging Idle Wells, Chevron Wells Produce Only 3 Barrels of Oil Per Day 

January 30, 2024  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA—California oil regulators issued 95% fewer permits to drill new wells and 25% fewer to fix or redrill existing wells during 2023 in...

Watchdog Wants Legislative Investigation Into CA Department of Finance $300 Million Understatement of Bottle Deposit Funds As Means to Stop Spending on Reforms

January 25, 2024  ·  Liza Tucker

Sacramento, CA— Consumer Watchdog called upon the Senate and Assembly budget chairs to investigate the Department of Finance’s understatement of available funds in CalRecycle’s budget...

Oil Drillers Mislead With Advertising Claims That Decreased CA Crude Oil Production Policies Lead To High Gas Prices

December 19, 2023  ·  Liza Tucker

Los Angeles, CA — In a barrage of deceptive Facebook and television advertisements, oil drillers, masquerading as “Californians for Energy Independence,” are falsely claiming limiting oil...

Consumer Watchdog Calls Out Oil Refiners’ Greed & Disinformation, Makes Case For Price Gouging Penalty Set At 70 Cents Per Gallon In Comments To CA Energy Commission

December 13, 2023  ·  Jamie Court

Sacramento, CA  —  Consumer Watchdog made a record of oil refiners’ profiteering in California and disinformation campaign in official comments before the California Energy Commission as it determines a...

New Data Show CA Oil Refiners’ Margins Grew To Unprecedented $1.50 Per Gallon During September Gas Price Spike; Profiteering Makes Case For Strong Price Gouging Penalty

December 7, 2023  ·  Jamie Court

Los Angeles, CA — New data posted by the California Energy Commission shows that as California gasoline prices were spiking in September at $5.70 per gallon California’s big...