Energy

Governor Removes Criticized Director;

May 19, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Edward Heidig's post draws scrutiny as law agency is ordered to be more business-friendly.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"Every rule in California is filtered through this office, so it is essential that it is run independently and without political pressure," said Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica advocacy</p>

Don’t Fumble Cell Phone Consumer Rights

May 14, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="Verdana,helvetica,Arial"> <br/> </font> <!-- body text starts --><!-- startbodytext --><font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Arnold has been asked to intervene on behalf of the telecommunications industry to block...</font>

Debate Over State’s Energy Supplies Heating Up Again;

May 10, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Governor, lawmakers and business are weighing in on how best to revamp the power system.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Letting the biggest corporations in the state cherry-pick the cheapest power... forces small ratepayers and small businesses to pay for the most expensive power, said Jamie Court of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica.</p>

Chamber charmed by all-business governor;

May 10, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Economic initiatives now at top of his list</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>The chamber has been preaching the same anti-regulation, anti-litigation, pro-deregulation, job-killer gospel for 25 years, but now they've found a celebrity who can reach the public, and it doesn't sound disingenuous, said Jamie Court of FTCR.</p>

Pumping Up the Price of Gasoline

May 8, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Perhaps no issue affects more businesses in California now than the skyrocketing price of gasoline. But Arnold -- big business's biggest advocate -- has been remarkably silent on the inflation...</font>

Shell Accused of Closing Refinery to Raise Gas Prices

May 6, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<h3>Oil refining capacity and its contribution to the rise in gasoline prices</h3><p class="source">National Public Radio (NPR) - Morning Edition</p> <p>Jamie Court, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, accuses Shell of playing its own OPEC-style game, choking off gas from one refinery so it can push up prices.</p>

Rising Profits Pump Up Criticism of Oil Refiners;

May 5, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>California consumer groups say the industry is taking advantage of supply concerns with record retail prices.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"They're making money hand over fist in the refining business," said Jamie Court, president of FTCR, a Santa Monica group that has accused oil companies of gouging motorists. "These results show that California is the profit center for all of these refini</p>

Power Play in California;

May 5, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<h3> Deregulation Déjà Vu</h3> <p> If the new political leadership in Sacramento and the energy industry have their way, Californians will soon see a revival of electricity deregulation. That's right: a return to a volatile market of unregulated electricity transactions that put the state.</p> <p>  </p>

Power Play in California

May 5, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Deregulation déjà vu</h3> <p>If the new political leadership in Sacramento and the energy industry have their way, Californians will soon see a revival of electricity deregulation. That's right: a return to a volatile market of unregulated electricity transactions that put the state</p>

OIL COMPANIES STRIKE GOLD;

May 1, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<h3>PROFITS JUMP IN STEP WITH RECORD GAS PRICES</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>"This is going to make for $3 for gasoline very quickly. That'll be almost pure profit for oil companies who've been gouging for so long, just because they can get away with it.", said said Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based FTCR.</p>

ChevronTexaco Earnings Climb 33 Percent

May 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Seattle Times</p> <p>The recent spike in gas prices has prompted some pointed criticism among politicians and consumer groups who believe oil companies are gouging motorists to fatten their bottom lines.</p>

Sen. Boxer Seeks Review of Shell Plant Set to Close

April 29, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Boxer said an independent audit was needed because the oil company's credibility had been undermined by its inconsistent statements about the refinery and by a massive accounting scandal at parent Royal Dutch/Shell Group.</p>