Energy

Governor demotes PUC leader Lynch

January 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>In a shake-up Tuesday of the board that oversees electric and telephone bills for millions of Californians, Gov. Gray Davis demoted the president of the state Public Utilities Commission and named one of his closest aides to the panel.</p>

Davis replaces PUC leader;

January 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>EX-UTILITY CHIEF TO HEAD PANEL</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>"With billions of dollars in consumer rates at stake, Californians need an independent consumer voice on the PUC rather than another Davis insider,'' said Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Davis appoints former utility chief to head PUC

January 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press State & Local Wire</p> <p>A former utility executive has been picked by Gov. Gray Davis to head the state's Public Utilities Commission, which regulates telecommunications and energy in California, while Davis named his Cabinet secretary to fill another opening.</p>

Davis Replaces PUC Chief;

January 1, 2003  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>He ousts Loretta Lynch from president's post and names Michael Peevey, who some activists say is too close to the energy industry.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Gov. Gray Davis on Tuesday ousted Loretta M. Lynch as president of the state Public Utilities Commission and replaced her with Michael R. Peevey, an advocate of deregulation who once headed Southern California Edison.</p>

California to hand back energy purchasing to utilities

December 30, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>The move to return power buying to utilities is largely symbolic, said consumer advocate Doug Heller of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "It's like giving a prisoner yard privileges when it's raining -- you can't use it."</p>

$2 gas on horizon?

December 27, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Experts differ over cost of ethanol switch</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Californians could pay $2 a gallon -- or higher -- for gasoline early in the new year when the state makes the transition from gas additive MTBE to ethanol, some energy experts say.</p>

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>