Energy

CALIFORNIANS GET PRICE SHOCK

March 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>ELECTRICITY RATES RAISED BY STATE ON SLIDING SCALE</h3><p class="source">Chicago Tribune</p> <p>In a move that shocked and angered consumers, the California Public Utility Commission on Tuesday voted to increase electricity rates by up to 46 percent for almost all of the state's residents, the biggest increase in the state's history.</p>

SDG&E accused of overcharging ratepayers

March 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A state consumer agency claimed Wednesday that San Diego Gas & Electric has overcharged ratepayers by more than $100 million, an allegation the utility denies.</p>

RECORD RATE HIKE APPROVED

March 28, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>PROTESTERS SAY 'WE WON'T PAY' AS HUGE POWER BOOST PASSED</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>The state Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved the largest electrical rate increase in California history Tuesday, hitting customers of two private utilities with 42 percent and 46 percent hikes.</p>

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>

Tough Day for SCE Customers, But No Problem for DWP Ratepayers

March 27, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">City News Service</p> <p>On a day when a state panel authorized the biggest electricity rate hike in state history for SCE and PG&E, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power told its customers not to worry.</p>

Rate hikes may be OK’d today

March 27, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>Regulators appointed by Gov. Gray Davis are expected to vote today on a proposal to raise electricity rates more than 40 percent, a move supported by business groups and Democratic legislative leaders but opposed by consumer groups.</p>

Rate hike prompts calls for state to seize plants

March 27, 2001  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>In his State of the State speech in January, Gov. Gray Davis said the state could seize power plants if its energy crisis worsened.</p>

RATES MAY SOAR 50%

March 27, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>CRISIS HAS MANY IN STATE FEELING POWERLESS</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p>

Higher Calif. Power Rates Considered

March 27, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>California's top energy regulator is considering raising rates by almost 50 percent to send a message to ''electricity hogs'' to ease up on power usage.</p>