Energy

CALIF. PUC HIKES RATES AS MUCH AS 46% SIGNALING POSSIBLE END TO ENERGY CRISIS

March 30, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Global Power Report</p> <p>The California Public Utility Commission March 27 voted 5-to-0 in favor of a rate increase of between 42% and 46% in an effort to raise the money needed to help resolve the state's energy crisis.</p>

Bailout Watch #27 – Mar 29, 2001

March 30, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>BAILOUT WATCH: Keeping an eye on the energy industry and the politicians<br/> <br/> Bailout Watch #27 - Mar 29, 2001<br/> <br/> SDG&E is no better than the out-of-state profiteers.</strong> In a motion filed by the Office of...

PUC office accuses SDG&E of padding bills

March 29, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>San Diego Gas and Electric, which has steadfastly insisted it merely passes along high power prices without markup, is being accused of padding electricity bills</p>

Get ready for the sequel

March 29, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Scripps Howard News Service</p> <p>If it were not so serious, the debate about California's electricity crisis would be as entertaining as a Hollywood thriller, thanks to its colorful cast of villains, dupes and victims.</p>

Calpine Profits To Exceed Goals

March 29, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>Fast-growing power generator Calpine Corp. disclosed Thursday that it is cashing in on the rising cost of electricity even more than management anticipated.</p>

Bailout Watch #26 – Mar 28, 2001

March 29, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>BAILOUT WATCH: Keeping an eye on the energy industry and the politicians<br/> <br/> Bailout Watch #26 - Mar 28, 2001<br/> <br/> View today's BW Cartoon: Davis Drives State Into The Perfect Storm</strong><br/> <strong><br/> ...</strong>

Protesters Storm CPUC Over Rate Hike

March 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Energy Daily</p> <p>Amid protesters' chants of "Rate hikes go away, make the energy companies pay," the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously but reluctantly approved a 3 cent per kilowatt-hour retail rate increase</p>

PUC Votes To Jack Up Power Rates

March 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Tiered increases approved as protests disrupt meeting</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>The bill finally came due for California's experiment with electricity deregulation as consumers were hit yesterday with the largest rate increase in state history, an average 40 percent jump in monthly power costs.</p>

PUC APPROVES LARGEST ELECTRICITY RATE INCREASE IN STATE’S HISTORY SOME CUSTOMERS WILL PAY UP TO 46% MORE.

March 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>COMMISSIONERS, FACING STRONG OPPOSITION BEFORE THEIR UNANIMOUS VOTE, SAY THEY ARE TRYING TO AVERT BLACKOUTS. CRITICS SAY MOVE WON'T SOLVE THE CRISIS.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>With protesters jeering their disapproval, besieged utility regulators Tuesday adopted the largest electricity rate hike in the state's history and defended the action as the only way to keep the lights on for millions of customers.</p>

PUC ACTION LEAVES QUESTIONS UNANSWERED, SUCH AS HOW TO HANDLE UTILITIES’ DEBTS AND WHETHER TO BUY GRID.

March 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>As painful as Tuesday's electricity rate increase will be for some consumers, power experts across the ideological spectrum say California is not yet close to being free of the energy crisis that has engulfed it and threatened its economy.</p>

Editorial: Will higher rates make you serious?

March 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Few will be surprised that we're finally being asked to pay more -- much more</h3><p class="source">Ventura County Star</p> <p>While Gov. Gray Davis has stubbornly staved off rate increases that the utilities and others have been clamoring for, it was perhaps inevitable that ratepayers would eventually have to pay more.</p>

Consumer activists say they will fight price hikes

March 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Contra Costa Times</p> <p>Calling it the beginning of a ratepayer revolt, consumer activists descended on state regulators who approved a massive electricity rate increase on Tuesday and said they would eventually go to voters to try to get the price hikes reversed.</p>