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Consumer Watchdog

Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.
Shell Oil Faces Crude Allegations

Shell Oil Faces Crude Allegations

<h3>KERO Insider Says Shell Planned To Manipulate Prices</h3><p class="source">KERO - The Bakersfield Channel (Bakersfield, CA)</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights is hoping the Attorney General's Office will step in and mediate the sale of the Bakersfield refinery. So far, 23 offers have been made, but Shell officials said none of them were credible.</p>
Group says Shell plots ‘peak’ repairs;

Group says Shell plots ‘peak’ repairs;

<h3>Documents suggest company already planned summer refinery slowdown</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register (California)</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, contends that the documents are very recent because they contain numbers marked "5/25/04 Actual."</p>
WHY ISN’T BIG OIL DRILLING MORE?

WHY ISN’T BIG OIL DRILLING MORE?

<h3>Despite the recent runup in prices, the industry is slow to pick up the pace</h3><p class="source">Business Week</p> <p>With joint ventures dominating downstream operations such as refining and storage, the competition's inventories are no secret, critics charge. "You don't need a smoky back room. All you have to do is go to a computer," says Jamie Court, president of FTCR</p>
State could run refinery Shell intends to close

State could run refinery Shell intends to close

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Consumer activist Jamie Court sees a way to kill two birds with one stone: The state should buy the refinery and process its own fuel, saving jobs and money and possibly turning a profit by selling excess production to local governments.</p>
Shell denies it will cut gas production over the summer

Shell denies it will cut gas production over the summer

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>The Santa Monica-based group also sent a letter Monday to the state attorney general's office and the Federal Trade Commission that urged a regulatory response against Shell to keep gas prices from spiking this summer in California.</p>
Power bill may allow big users to shop;

Power bill may allow big users to shop;

<h3>LAWMAKERS STRUGGLE WITH ENERGY BLUEPRINT</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News (California)</p> <p>"Deregulation is a dangerous game, and we should not put Californians back on that path," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>