Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.

Consumer group attacks UC-Berkeley for ties to Big Oil

March 14, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

The San Jose Mercury News (California) Saying that Berkeley should learn from Stanford's "mistakes,'' Foundation president Jamie Court said the regents should do everything they can to protect the public university's academic autonomy and integrity as it partners with Big Oil. "The University of California must not allow itself to be, as Stanford has become, a greenwash for one of the world's largest oil companies,'' Court wrote. The foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan consumer group based in Santa Monica.

Big Oil Grants At Cal, Stanford Draw Criticism

March 13, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

KPIX-TV5 (CBS - San Francisco, CA) "They mention Stanford because they get credibility by being associated with Stanford," said John Simpson of the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights. And now his consumer-rights group is raising questions about oil companies sponsoring research projects on local campuses. "Here you have companies that don't have very good images doing everything they can to associate with well known high quality research institutions. And clearly they're burnishing their image," Simpson said.

BP’s Deal With UC Berkeley Under Scrutiny;

March 12, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Is The University Being Exploited?</h3>KGO-TV 7 (ABC - San Francisco, CA) John Simpson, Foundation for Taxpayers' and Consumers' Rights: "That's a huge problem as I see it. You're going to have public research going on and shoulder to shoulder you're going to have BP scientists on the payroll indulging in what's described as proprietary research. That means to me secret research. It just seems to me that they get the benefit from everything that Berkeley has to offer and they give very little in return."

Pump prices rising with swelling refinery profits

March 11, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Ventura County Star (California) Consumer advocates say the oil companies are intentionally limiting gasoline supplies to drive up prices and profit margins. "What this industry needs to make big profits and what consumers need to have reasonable prices are very different things," said Judy Dugan, research director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.

Rise in gasoline prices

March 10, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

CBS TV Evening News (6:30 PM EST) Mr. JAMIE COURT (Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights): We are going to see a dollar run up at the pump if things keep going this way by summer. And that is going to put a very serious dent in the economy.

Pump prices flirt with $3;

March 9, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Sacramento area sees jump of 35 cents a gallon in last month.</h3>Sacramento Bee The power outage explanation drew scoffs from the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, which said the real blame lies with the refineries. The foundation said the refiners are guilty of a "deliberate shrinking of refinery capacity," making the market vulnerable to the slightest hiccups.

Cash Question Still Looms Over Exxon Mobil

March 9, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Oil Daily One group -- the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights -- recently attacked Exxon, saying the company continues to hoard tens of billions of dollars rather than invest in refineries and oil alternatives.

Refinery profit margins double in West;

March 9, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>It's one reason price of gas in state is up 44 cents since Feb. 1</h3>THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE Consumer advocates call many of the refinery problems a sham. The oil companies, they say, are limiting gasoline supplies to drive up prices and profit margins, just as power companies did during the state's electricity crisis six years ago. "What this industry needs to make big profits and what consumers need to have reasonable prices are very different things," said Judy Dugan, research director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.

Gas Prices Rise More Than 30 Cents in One Month

March 8, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

CSNews.com FTCR has actively spoken out against the gasoline marketplace on the West Coast before. A 46 cent price gap between the U.S. average price for gasoline and California's was more than can be accounted for by the state's slightly higher gasoline taxes, the group said in February after spokesmen and analysts accused a glitch at a Texas refinery for the price hike.

California watchdog group cries foul on big oil

March 7, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Land Line Magazine In addition to the request for an investigation by the California Attorney General, FTCR is also calling on U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to hold hearings to force the oil companies to stop exerting pressure on Gilbarco or other manufacturers. "California is the test case for the temperature-adjusted pump in America," foundation President Jamie Court stated in a press release. "We must not allow one powerful industry to foil a fair and honest accounting for American motorists."

Hot gas costs California drivers;

March 6, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Fuel expands in heat, but special pumps could compensate for temperature swings</h3>THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE Consumer advocate Jamie Court on Monday called for the California attorney general to investigate whether any undue pressure had been placed on Gilbarco not to sell its pumps in the state. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said the office will look into the matter.

Group wants AG to probe gas pumps, saying consumers are gouged

March 6, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

The Contra Costa Times (California) The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said motorists in warm-weather states such as California can be shortchanged when they fill up without the type of gas pump made by the company. The Santa Monica-based group suggested that Gilbarco Veeder-Root decided not to market the fuel pump and a retrofit device to upgrade existing pumps because of pressure from the oil industry.