Energy

State’s tally nears $2 billion for short-term power buys

February 14, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>The state Wednesday prepared to spend $500 million more on emergency power purchases, raising the tally to nearly $2 billion</p>

PUC members’ trips raise eyebrows

February 14, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Energy firms help fund utility commissioners' travel, and their representatives go along.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register</p> <p>Members of the state agency that oversees utility rates in California have been traveling around the world on trips paid for in part by energy companies.</p>

Utility Consumers Groups Enjoy New Power amidst California’s Power Crisis

February 13, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">North County Times</p> <p>Groups that represent utility consumers, after spending years in the obscurity of regulatory hearings, are suddenly enjoying access and clout as lawmakers wrestle with the power crisis in California.</p>

Judge denies Edison bid for fast rate rise State says move allows more time to solve debt crisis

February 13, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>A federal judge Monday denied Southern California Edison's request to quickly raise its rates by about 9 percent to cover the skyrocketing costs of wholesale power associated with deregulation.</p>

Bailout Watch #6 – Feb 12, 2001

February 13, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>BAILOUT WATCH: Keeping an eye on the energy industry and the politicians<br/> <br/> Bailout Watch #6 - Feb 12, 2001<br/> <br/> Fooling voters by hiding the bailout.</strong><br/> <br/> Politicians who want to bail out the utilities...

POWER PLAY

February 12, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Business Week</p> <p>On this cold January day in Houston, Enron President Jeffrey K. Skilling could easily play the pirate that California consumer groups are casting him as these days.</p>

Bailout Watch #5 – Feb 09, 2001

February 10, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>BAILOUT WATCH:  Keeping an eye on the energy industry and the politicians<br/> <br/> Bailout Watch #5 - Feb 09, 2001<br/> <br/> How much is that doggy in the window?</strong><br/> <br/> The utilities want a bailout. But getting...

Electricity-Regulation Initiative Shadows California Politicians’ Bailout Plan

February 9, 2001  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>Behind every energy decision by California politicians looms a consumer group's threat to short-circuit a quick-fix legislative solution by putting the deregulation issue before voters in 2002.</p>

Bailout Watch #4 – Feb 08, 2001

February 9, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>BAILOUT WATCH:  Keeping an eye on the energy industry and the politicians<br/> <br/> Bailout Watch #4 - Feb 08, 2001<br/> <br/> Parent corporations must protect the utilities.</strong> That is what the California Public...</p>

Utilities, state to vie over charges

February 8, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Shifting of funds to parent firms is area of dispute</h3><p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>California utilities are squaring off against state regulators in two arenas in the next few days, in a tug of war over how much money the utilities can charge customers.</p>

Ex-governor won’t take blame for power crisis

February 8, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Wilson, faulting the PUC, urges Davis to issue an emergency order.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register</p> <p>Former California Gov. Pete Wilson said Wednesday he deserves credit -- not blame -- for signing landmark legislation in 1996 sending the state on the path to electricity deregulation</p>

Bailout Watch #3 – Feb 07, 2001

February 8, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>BAILOUT WATCH:  Keeping an eye on the energy industry and the politicians<br/> <br/> Bailout Watch #3 - Feb 07, 2001<br/> <br/> $800 million of taxpayer money down the drain. More to come. </strong> </p> <p> Last...</p>