Energy

California Energy Regulators Give Up Power to Question Rate Hikes

July 19, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>State energy regulators have reluctantly signed away one of their most fundamental consumer protection roles: the right to question and reject requests for higher power rates.</p>

Assembly panel OKs two bills to help Southern California Edison

July 19, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Two sharply contrasting plans to prevent debt-ridden Southern California Edison from being dragged into bankruptcy cleared a key Assembly committee last night, but a third measure stalled in the Senate.</p>

Bailout Watch #59 – Jul 18, 2001

July 18, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>BAILOUT WATCH: Keeping an eye on the energy industry and the politicians<br/> <br/> Bailout Watch #59 - Jul 18, 2001<br/> <br/> Get Your Buckets Ready; It's Bailout Time!</strong> Lawmakers in Sacramento are falling over...</strong>

PUC discusses raising rates

July 18, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Sparking accusations that it's abandoning its watchdog role, the Public Utilities Commission took the first step Wednesday toward promising to raise rates as much as necessary to pay the state's electricity bills.</p>

PUC agrees to adjust electric rates if necessary

July 18, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>A proposed agreement between state power regulators and the agency that buys electricity for millions of Californians would allow the state to raise electric rates with no outside review</p>

Lawmakers devise rival bailout plans for Edison

July 18, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Push to come up with alternative to bankruptcy before recess</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Lawmakers are struggling this week to agree on a plan to keep Southern California Edison from declaring bankruptcy as they rush to complete business before Friday's scheduled summer recess.</p>

Assembly panel to vote on Edison bailout today

July 18, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Two proposals are vying for lawmakers' support. The utility says both fall short.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register</p> <p>After three months of political wrangling, a bill that would bail out financially crippled Southern California Edison will finally be voted on in the Legislature today.</p>

Record $344.3 million spent lobbying Legislature, agencies

July 17, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>Spending to lobby the Legislature and state regulators jumped nearly 18 percent to a record $344.3 million over the two-year period ending last Dec. 31, the secretary of state's office said.</p>

Power refunds likely to fall into many hands before consumers’

July 17, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>Even if federal regulators agree to the multibillion-dollar refund that California officials are demanding from electricity suppliers, consumers shouldn't count on getting a fat check in the mail any time soon.</p>

Crucial debate begins over Edison’s financial future

July 17, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Divided legislators began grappling Tuesday with competing proposals to keep one of California's largest private utilities, Southern California Edison, from going bankrupt.</p>

Municipal power firms cleaned up

July 16, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Public producers charged state far more than private</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>From the start of the state's energy meltdown, Gov. Gray Davis and many lawmakers have cast private out-of-state energy companies -- especially those in Texas -- as pirates plundering California's economy.</p>

DID DAVIS ‘FIDDLE’ AMID FUEL CRISIS?

July 16, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>To Gov. Gray Davis, commander in chief of California's energy war, the enemy lies bunkered in out-of-state power companies that ripped off $8.9 billion in overcharges.</p>