Energy

Few question Tenn. senator’s ability to lead Frist’s toughness impresses members of both parties

December 23, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">USA TODAY</p> <p>Frist's father and brother founded what has become the nation's largest for-profit hospital chain, HCA. The company has created vast wealth for the Frist family. It also has been subject to the largest-ever federal fraud case;</p>

Legacy of Power Cost Manipulation

December 22, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>Two years ago this month, a record was set at the height of the West Coast energy crunch: an hour of electric power was sold for $3,250 -- more than a hundred times what the same small block had cost a year earlier.</p>

Deregulation writer to head up governor’s budget team

December 20, 2002  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>Gov. Gray Davis' choice of Steve Peace - a former lawmaker and key architect of the state's failed electricity deregulation plan - as his top budget adviser during the state's worst fiscal crisis is being called bold by some and baffling by others.</p>

Hefty power bill looms;

December 13, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Governor 'outraged' at stance FERC took</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>Gov. Gray Davis angrily denounced federal energy regulators yesterday, saying they "rigged the rules" and led a judge to conclude that California owes generators money -- not the other way around.</p>

WRONG POWER MOVES

December 6, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">LA Weekly</p> <p>Governor Gray Davis let slip away a key solution to California's continuing electric-power mess last summer and spring when he refused to take up several companies on their offers to turn over generating plants to the state, the Weekly has learned.</p>

Audiotape Is Called ‘Smoking Gun’ in California Utility Market-Rigging Probe

November 24, 2002  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>It's been called the "Smoking Gun of the Month Club." Nearly once a month this year if not even more often fresh evidence has emerged of market rigging during the California electricity crisis.</p>

State Supreme Court to take PUC’s utility bailout case

November 21, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The California Supreme Court on Wednesday took over a dispute in which federal judges appeared ready to slap down plans by the state Public Utilities Commission to rescue the state's two biggest utilities.</p>

California Supreme Court enters energy deregulation fray

November 21, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>David Kravets, Associated Press Writer</h3><p class="source">Associated Press State & Local Wire</p> <p>The California Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether power regulators unlawfully authorized a utility to use money generated by record-high electric rate hikes to pay its debts.</p>

PG&E yet another piece in California’s electric rate puzzle

November 18, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Teams of lawyers and consultants representing Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and state power regulators will head back into federal bankruptcy court Monday to start a grueling, weeks-long process to argue in favor of their plans which will determine the fut</p>

Report: Firms exploited energy crisis with nudges and winks, suppliers kept plants closed, regulators say.

November 16, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>In the early days of California's power crisis, innuendo and nuance were enough to keep a power plant offline, driving up electricity prices by at least $10 million, according to a report released Friday by federal regulators.</p>

Consumers won’t soon see lower bills from reworked energy deal

November 13, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>The recent reworking of some of California's long-term energy contracts has shaved nearly $5 billion from the more than 50 deals, but consumers won't immediately see the savings on their own energy bills.</p>

From a Power Crisis to a Crisis of Power;

November 12, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>PUC decisions by Davis appointees are costing the state's taxpayers billions.</h3> <p>The Public Utilities Commission stole $7.5 billion from California consumers last week. The money will be used to bail out both utility companies and big businesses from their losses during the energy debacle.</p>