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Consumer Watchdog

Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.
Shell Asked to Keep Oil Refinery Operating

Shell Asked to Keep Oil Refinery Operating

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Jamie Court of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumers Rights has threatened to sue Shell under the state's Unfair Competition Law if Lockyer fails to take action.</p>
Oil firms’ profits rise sharply

Oil firms’ profits rise sharply

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>A study released Tuesday backs a common complaint from drivers: Profits for oil companies have been rising sharply along with prices at the gas pump. The average profits for California's top five oil companies rose 298% in 2002, while gas prices increased</p>
Energy deregualtion bill moves forward

Energy deregualtion bill moves forward

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Opponents, which include some independent power producers and consumer groups, say the bill will not work as proposed. Doug Heller, of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, warned that deregulation of the electricity market has been tried befor</p>
Power-crisis indictments name Reliant, former execs

Power-crisis indictments name Reliant, former execs

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>"Reliant was among a group of large energy companies that robbed California blind during deregulation, so this should only be the beginning of indictments," said Douglas Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights</p>
Gas price nears record

Gas price nears record

<p class="source">San Mateo County Times</p> <p>As consumers feel the sting of high prices, Shell Oil's decision to close a Bakersfield refinery is coming under fire. This week, the consumer group FTCR released internal Shell documents that show that refinery has been the among Shell's most profitable</p>
Reliant On Unregulated Energy Companies

Reliant On Unregulated Energy Companies

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Today a federal grand jury indicted Reliant Energy for manipulating the California energy market as far back as June 2000. Reliant at one point charged the state $1900 per megawatt-hour of...</font>