Energy

Gas Marketers: Oblivious to All the Fuss

January 1, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>New mega-marketers, niche players emphasize opportunity.</h3><p class="source">PUBLIC UTILITIES FORTNIGHTLY</p> <p>THE NATURAL GAS TRADING BUSINESS HAS been on a roll since the mid-1980s, when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order 436, giving birth to the concept of gas marketing companies.</p>

Oaks Project Highlights

January 1, 2002  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<!-- excerpt --><p>Read on to learn more about Oaks Projects initiatives and victories over the past five years.</p>

Paying the light bill

December 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Battles over deregulation will be fought</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>For months, SDG&E residential customers have opened their statements and considered themselves lucky -- lucky they've emerged from the energy crisis with bills often just 25 percent higher than before.</p>

Gas Pains

December 26, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Texans snickered, but we all got snookered in the end</h3><p class="source">East Bay Express</p> <p>On January 16, 2001, California utility giants Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison officially defaulted on payments to power companies around the country. On January 17, the first rolling blackouts began across the state.</p>

More losers than winners in power play

December 23, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>It's going to take state and federal investigators a while longer to figure out who was naughty and nice in California's energy crisis. The facts are still coming to light even as the last blackout fades into memory.</p>

PUC CHIEF JOINS CROWD URGING NEW LOOK AT POWER DEALS

December 23, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO SIGN LAST WINTER, LYNCH SAYS, BUT CALIFORNIA NEEDS TO RENEGOTIATE</h3><p class="source">Modesto Bee</p> <p>In hindsight, state Public Utilities Commission President Loretta Lynch doesn't think Gov. Davis had much choice but to sign a batch of expensive long-term contracts for electricity last spring.</p>

State auditor is critical of energy deals

December 21, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Assessment says consumers could be stuck for billions</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Gov. Gray Davis and California energy officials spent too much on long-term power contracts that also leave the state vulnerable to electricity shortages during peak demand times, the California state auditor said yesterday.</p>

Audit slams weaknesses in state’s power purchases

December 21, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>In their rush to sign $42.6 billion in long-term electricity contracts earlier this year, California authorities failed to adequately protect consumers against price spikes and blackouts, the state auditor reported Thursday.</p>

Enron’s California customers analyze their power options

December 20, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>The roughly 40,000 California customers of fallen energy giant Enron Corp. are in a pickle.</p>

Utility commissioner pleads case in stock deal

December 18, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>PUC official pleads case in stock deal</h3><p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Fending off a suit to remove him from office, one of the state's top utility commissioners testified yesterday that he had no idea investing $27, 000 in a mobile-phone company violated state law until a Chronicle reporter asked him about it 15 months lat</p>

Utility commissioner pleads case in stock deal

December 18, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Fending off a suit to remove him from office, one of the state's top utility commissioners testified yesterday that he had no idea investing $27,000 in a mobile-phone company violated state law until a Chronicle reporter asked him about it 15 months late</p>

California utility commissioner said he didn’t know commission regulates wireless companies

December 18, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A member of the California Public Utilities Commission who invested $10,000 in one of the nation's largest wireless communications companies said he did not know the PUC regulated the industry.</p>