Energy

State May Be Re-Energized, but Powerful Questions Remain

January 20, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>It's remarkable to recall, one year later, how bleak it all seemed at the time. In the third week of January 2001, after months of worrisome forecasts, the energy crisis finally appeared to crash down upon California.</p>

Enron role in state’s crisis due 2nd look

January 18, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Firm's energy trading, lobbying roles of interest</h3><p class="source">San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>Allegations of accounting chicanery at Enron Corp. are causing California regulators and consumer advocates to reconsider the role played by the once-dominant company in the state deregulation debacle.</p>

Hoax

January 17, 2002  ·  Doug Heller

How deregulation let the energy industry steal billions from Californians. Read the report here.

Consumer advocates call power shortage a hoax; ISO disagrees

January 17, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>On the anniversary of last year's rolling blackouts, consumer advocates, energy suppliers and state power officials disagreed on the causes of the energy shortage - or if a shortage even existed.</p>

HOAX – How Deregulation Let the Power Industry Steal $71 Billion From California

January 17, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>How Deregulation Let the Power Industry Steal $71 Billion From California</h3>

Enron’s California smoking gun

January 16, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Did the Bush administration do the disgraced company's bidding during the state's electricity crisis?</h3><p class="source">Salon.com</p> <p>Remember the California energy crisis? As the implications of the collapse of Enron spiral ever wider, increasing attention is being paid to the close connections between the White House and the Texas energy trader.</p>

State seeks $4 billion from PG&E

January 11, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Suit says firm's actions led utility to bankruptcy</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>State Attorney General Bill Lockyer yesterday charged that Pacific Gas and Electric Corp. drove its regulated utility business into bankruptcy by engaging in illegal and fraudulent business practices.</p>

REGULATORS SEEK VOICE IN PG&E FATE

January 9, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>CALIFORNIA COMMISSION SAYS IT HAS A PLAN TO PAY OFF DEBTS AND RESTORE THE UTILITY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH</h3><p class="source">Contra Costa Times</p> <p>California regulators, intent on preserving their authority to set utility rates, asked a bankruptcy judge Tuesday to let them file their own proposal for paying off the creditors of PG&E Corp.'s utility unit.</p>

PUC Seeks OK to File New PG&E Reorganization Plan

January 9, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Agency aims to keep the utility under its thumb, halting effort to transfer transmission and generation facilities to new corporate entities.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>State utility regulators asked a federal bankruptcy judge Tuesday for permission to file an alternative plan for reorganizing financially ailing Pacific Gas & Electric Co., saying it could reduce electricity rates for millions of Northern and Central Cali</p>

State power regulators protest PG&E bankruptcy plan

January 8, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>California's largest utility has amassed $4.9 billion in cash and should use that money to pay its debts and emerge from bankruptcy, the state Public Utilities Commission said Tuesday in a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.</p>

Power initiative off for now

January 8, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>A consumer rights group has scrapped plans for a ballot initiative to overturn the proposed government bailout of troubled utility Southern California Edison.</p>

Assembly’s next leader enjoys the game

January 8, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>Herb Wesson has tried his hand at a series of colorful jobs: He's donned a gold smock to shampoo rugs as a house cleaner, whipped up water-free dinners selling gimmicky cookware door-to-door and honed his wit as a stand-up comedian.</p>