Energy

The Well-Oiled Deal: Taking away local control of refineries is a family matter

April 1, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

A sickening odor of gasoline hung along Wilmington’s waterfront as people filed out of last week’s meeting with California Energy Commission officials on a state proposal to minimize local say over construction of oil-industry facilities. Vapors from a nearby refinery or tanker ship were a pungent reminder of why residents of Wilmington, Carson and other refinery communities had come to oppose the state’s power grab. They argued that because their neighborhoods are home to the state’s major oil port and refining center, they and their local governments should have a say when petroleum facilities are expanded.  Little did they know that the proposal is backed by a powerful husband-wife team: commission member James D. Boyd and his wife, Catherine Reheis-Boyd, chief of staff for the Western States Petroleum Association and the industry’s registered lobbyist in Sacramento.

OPINION – Big-business backers won’t give up notion of deregulation

March 26, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Gabriel Valley Tribune</p> <p>Is Arnold really suggesting an end to the 2-year-old Public Power Agency, described by the consumerist FTCR as "the one public agency that can ensure that if consumers do not have access to inexpensive electricity, that can step in and pro</p>

Gas Pricing Hearing

March 26, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">City News Service</p> <p>Jamie Court, president of the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Consumer and Taxpayer Rights, said he believes a small group of refineries manipulates the market by keeping the system running on low inventories.</p>

Socal Ed Scopes Independent Customer Survey

March 22, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">THE ELECTRICITY DAILY</p> <p>Douglas Heller, executive director of watchdog group FTCR, told The Los Angeles Times, "Is Southern California Edison's service so bad that employees are cooking the books in order to make things look better than they really are. This is an eye-opener."</p>

Rising gas prices look like California’s electricity crisis

March 17, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<p class="source">Minnesota Public Radio - Marketplace</p> <p>Refiners are cheating, not competing. Instead of competing to create more supply, they work together to restrict supply and profit wildly.</p>

Rising gas prices look like California’s electricity crisis

March 17, 2004  ·  Jamie Court

<!-- excerpt --><p>Refiners are cheating, not competing. Instead of competing to create more supply, they work together to restrict supply and profit wildly.</p>

PUC report pans power deregulation

March 17, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Copley News Service</p> <p>"It sends a warning that you cannot dive headfirst into deregulation again," said Doug Heller with FTCR. "California would be better served with a regulated electricity system, and we will fight any form of deregulation."</p>

Southern California Edison is investigated for doctoring customer service surveys

March 16, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Minnesota Public Radio - Marketplace</p> <p>Suppose you did a customer service survey and only polled your co-workers and friends? Or erased the names of people who've had unhappy experiences with your company? That's what some staffers of SCEdison have been doing since the late '90s.</p>

How to Look Good: Survey Yourself

March 16, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>"Is Southern California Edison's service so bad that employees are cooking the books in order to make things look better than they really are?" said Douglas Heller, executive director of FTCR in Santa Monica. "This is an eye-opener."</p>

RUNNING ON EMPTY;

March 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>HOPE DIM FOR LOWER GAS PRICES</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Also on the supply side, the Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights has recommended that the state prevent Shell Oil from closing its Bakersfield refinery later this year.</p>

On the Dole

March 12, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">During his State of the State speech, Governor Schwarzenegger reminded the legislature that if he could sell the movie Red Sonja he could sell anything. Lately, Arnold has used his star power...</font>

Gasoline Prices: a Case of Cheating, Not Competing;

March 11, 2004  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Sound familiar? Think back to the electricity crisis.</h3> <p>If the recent sticker shock at the gasoline pump feels familiar, that's because it is the same old story that led California's electricity market to become the embarrassment of the nation.</p>