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Consumer Watchdog

Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.
FERC Raises Energy Price Caps;

FERC Raises Energy Price Caps;

<h3>Limit jumps to $250 per megawatt-hour under plan. Panel moves to cut Davis' authority over state electricity grid.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Federal regulators Wednesday more than doubled the top price at which energy generators can sell electricity in California and moved to sharply reduce Gov. Gray Davis' authority over the state's power grid.</p>
Energy Price Ceiling Jumps

Energy Price Ceiling Jumps

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Re-igniting a debate that burned during last year's energy crisis, federal regulators nearly tripled the price ceiling on electricity in California on Wednesday, saying it's needed to ensure the flow of power into the state.</p>
Duke Prices In California Soared

Duke Prices In California Soared

<p class="source">The Charlotte Observer</p> <p>As California reeled toward blackouts early last year, Duke Energy Corp. raised its wholesale power prices, some nearly sixfold in just weeks.</p>
Shades of Gray Dim Bush’s Speech

Shades of Gray Dim Bush’s Speech

<p class="source">St. Petersburg Times</p> <p>Heard the latest flap over the director of a public corporation who sold his shares for $848,560 just before the company reported heavy losses? That director was President Bush.</p>
State’s Energy Loose Ends Coming to a Head

State’s Energy Loose Ends Coming to a Head

<p class="source">Orange County Business Journal</p> <p>With federal price caps due to expire on Sept. 30 and the state's authority to buy power set to end three months later, a battle is brewing over the future shape of the California's dysfunctional power market.</p>
No Relief on Rates as Power Costs Fall

No Relief on Rates as Power Costs Fall

<h3>California: Increases remain in place despite a sharp drop in market prices. State panel predicts a $2.7-billion windfall for the utilities.</h3><p class="source">The Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Despite assurances from the state 15 months ago that electricity customers could expect lower bills when power prices fell, relief is still many months away, even though blackouts have ended and wholesale prices have dropped</p>
PG&E Decision To Mark Milestone In Deregulation;

PG&E Decision To Mark Milestone In Deregulation;

<h3>Creditors Can Vote To Split Utility, Keep It Under State Control, Or Both</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>This week, more than 70,000 creditors of Pacific Gas & Electric will receive a 600-page packet as gripping as a phone book to help them decide the fate of PG&E by choosing between two rival plans to bring the utility out of bankruptcy.</p>
Creditors set to vote on PG&E’s new form

Creditors set to vote on PG&E’s new form

<h3>They are faced with two proposals for how the company should emerge from bankruptcy protection</h3><p class="source">The Sacramento Bee</p> <p>For the past 14 months the powerful have held the stage - the banks and energy companies, the Wall Street lawyers and Harvard law professors.</p>