Energy

Refinery snags may pump up gas prices

June 28, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Unplanned maintenance will slow production, oil firms say</h3><p class="source">The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, CA)</p> <p>The maintenance, taking place during the summer driving season, is "a tactic to reduce supply also used by electricity producers during California's energy crisis," according to a statement from the FTCR.</p>

Shell Oil Faces Crude Allegations

June 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>

Report of cutbacks in summertime gas false, Shell Oil says

June 22, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Jamie Court, President of FTCR, called the documents "incontrovertible evidence the company has once again misled California about its stated reasons for the shutdown of Shell's Bakersfield refinery."</p>

Group says Shell plots ‘peak’ repairs;

June 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>

State could run refinery Shell intends to close

June 21, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<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 to Cut Summer Output at Bakersfield Refinery, Papers Say

June 21, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Shell Oil Co. plans to put the brakes on production at its Bakersfield refinery in July and August, potentially shorting California's fuel supplies during the summertime driving season, according to internal Shell documents.</p>

Shell denies it will cut gas production over the summer

June 21, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>

Letter to CA Atty General Lockyer & FTC Chairman Muris w/ Internal Shell Oil Documents Showing Bakersfield Refinery Slowdown

June 21, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

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WHY ISN’T BIG OIL DRILLING MORE?

June 21, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>

FTCR’s Letter to FERC CHairman Pat Wood, III

June 16, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>After Wood's Dismissive Reaction to Enron Tapes Exposing Energy Market Manipulation</h3>

California’s senators blast FERC for lack of action on refunds to state

June 16, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Copley News Service</p> <p>On Wednesday, a consumer group, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, based in Santa Monica, Calif., also criticized Wood for "indifference" to Enron's gaming of California ratepayers.</p>

Power bill may allow big users to shop;

June 14, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<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>