Energy

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

California attorney general to probe possible gas-price gouging

September 2, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

Associated Press The Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said the retail price of gas often is set by oil companies, which is where the group said Lockyer should focus his investigation. "Oil companies that provide gasoline to stations set the wholesale price, and if those stations have to pay more then it's the oil company who is gouging,'' foundation president Jamie Court said.

North County motorists prepare for more gas prices increases

September 2, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

North County Times (Escondido, California) Feeding the speculation of profiteering was a report issued Thursday by another advocacy group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights California. That report claims profiteering and government failure to respond were responsible for the rise in gas prices in California in the months leading up to Hurricane Katrina.

Not Yes, Not No, Not Even a Maybe

August 29, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Some legislators choose to abstain rather than vote. It's all about power -- or political cover.</h3>Los Angeles Times Abstentions so annoy one group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, that it has drafted a ballot initiative that would withhold the pay of lawmakers on days when they don't vote. "If I came to my job and a third of the time didn't do what I was supposed to, I wouldn't have a job," said foundation President Jamie Court, who hopes to put the initiative on the ballot next year.

Gas price regulation debate intensifies

August 28, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

Charleston Gazette (West Virginia) The Service Station Dealers of America agree, saying wholesalers are limiting competition and thus pushing prices higher. "Fuel is basically a commodity, almost something that should be regulated by the public services commissions, because there is no other product out there that so many consumers depend on," said Paul Fiore, the group's executive vice president.

Arnold’s Energy

August 26, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

While the Gov's been spending all of his energy fundraising at a world record clip, what's happened to Californians' energy? Gasoline prices are at an all time high and oil companies' profits...

Utilities might take plastic

August 25, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

The Orange County Register "This puts consumers in an unwinnable bind," said Doug Heller, executive director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, who said he thought utilities could afford to absorb processing costs because of the money card payments could save. "It just seems like a legislative stretch to hand money out to our already bloated utilities. What do they want? If we could send them blood with our payments, they'd write legislation for that too," Heller said.

Should gas prices be regulated?;

August 25, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Hawaii has decided to cap the wholesale price of gasoline. Other states have debated such a move.</h3>The Kansas City Star "It's very clear to us that gas prices need to be regulated. We really need to step back and recognize that, like electricity, gasoline is too vital to the economy to be left in the hands of these corporations that have been gouging us," said Doug Heller, the executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Los Angeles, a consumer advocacy group.

Hawaii instigates cap on gas prices

August 25, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

Sacramento Bee (California) "I'm all for price controls to the extent that they limit profiteering," said Jamie Court, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica. "Profiteering's the problem." His lone criticism of the Hawaii plan was using mainland prices as a baseline. "The flaw is that it assumes your baseline market is a reasonable one. There is no reasonable or sane gasoline market in the United States of America right now."

Gas prices climb, but a bit slower

August 20, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

The San Diego Union-Tribune (California) Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, said California should implement a windfall profits tax. "This is price gouging by the oil companies, and not a single state politician has the guts to stand up to them," Court said. "It is a remarkable silence."

After 4 years of debate, energy bill nears passage

July 29, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>While promising no immediate relief from record-high gas prices, Congress is poised to pass an energy bill that could have far-reaching implications for California.</h3>Copley News Service "It's lights out for California consumers," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Santa Monica-based FTCR. "They're weakening consumer protections and they're taking away the state's right to determine whether new energy facilities are safe and appropriate."

Enron OKs $1.5 billion settlement with states

July 17, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

Sacramento Bee "It's justice in name. I don't think California ratepayers will actually feel much financial relief from the settlement," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights.

THE BIG SQUEEZE BY BIG OIL;

June 27, 2005 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>A Star consumer watchdog report</h3>The Kansas City Star Clearly, free-market adjustments explain some of the decline in capacity. Inefficient small refineries, for example, were among those closed. But other forces, say some critics, were also afoot. "This is an industry rigged for profits," said Jamie Court, president of The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "People think it is OPEC that's the reason for high gas prices, and it just isn't so."