Consumer Watchdog

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Consumer Watchdog

Energy

STATE POWER WOES GROW

STATE POWER WOES GROW

<h3>BUSINESSES LOSE $ 1.7 BILLION DUE TO WEEK'S BLACKOUTS</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>California's energy crisis deepened Friday, costing millions in lost wages, lost production and lost confidence in the state's sterling credit.</p>
Rolling Blackouts: Day 2

Rolling Blackouts: Day 2

<h3>Legislature OKs crisis power bill</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>Rolling blackouts swept through Northern and Central California for a second straight day Thursday, as the state Legislature approved an emergency spending bill aimed at keeping the lights on</p>
LAWMAKERS VOTE TO USE RESERVE FUND AS BUSH REJECTS POWER PRICE CAPS

LAWMAKERS VOTE TO USE RESERVE FUND AS BUSH REJECTS POWER PRICE CAPS

<h3>OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THE $400 MILLION MIGHT NEVER BE RECOVERED. LIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN IN SOME AREAS, BUT REGULATORS EXPECT TO KEEP THEM ON FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>The state Legislature on Thursday approved spending hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers' money to keep power flowing in California, eating into the state's multibillion-dollar surplus</p>
Calif. still wrestles with power plight

Calif. still wrestles with power plight

<h3>Specific solutions for state's woes also seem to be in short supply</h3><p class="source">USA TODAY</p> <p>Californians struggled through a second day of rolling blackouts Thursday as lawmakers and regulators sought to bring short-term stability to a chaotic energy picture.</p>
$ 1 BILLION HANDOUT?

$ 1 BILLION HANDOUT?

<h3>STATE WILL BUY POWER, PASS IT ON</h3><p class="source">The Daily News of Los Angeles</p> <p>Gov. Gray Davis and the state Legislature moved Thursday to increase their commitment to nearly $ 1 billion in taxpayer money to buy electricity without any clear plan to get paid back</p>
State may buy more electricity

State may buy more electricity

<h3>Legislature approves spending $400 million over 12 days to prevent blackouts.</h3><p class="source">The Orange County Register</p> <p>Taxpayers risk losing as much as $400 million in an emergency plan passed by the Legislature on Thursday that allows the state to dip into its general fund to buy electricity for the next 12 days to prevent further blackouts.</p>
State auditor threatens to subpoena PUC

State auditor threatens to subpoena PUC

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The state auditor last week threatened to issue subpoenas forcing the California Public Utilities Commission to cooperate with an investigation into the state's embattled power market.</p>
ROLLING BLACKOUTS PUSH ENERGY CRISIS FROM THREAT TO REALITY

ROLLING BLACKOUTS PUSH ENERGY CRISIS FROM THREAT TO REALITY

<h3>SYSTEM OPERATORS PULL PLUG ON CUSTOMERS FROM BAKERSFIELD TO EUREKA. DAVIS DECLARES AN EMERGENCY, CLEARING WAY FOR STATE TO PURCHASE POWER.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Rolling blackouts dimmed sizable portions of Northern and Central California on Wednesday, shutting businesses and tangling traffic</p>
California Lays Victim to Rolling Waves of Cynicism

California Lays Victim to Rolling Waves of Cynicism

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>Cynicism is rolling across California these days along with the blackouts and big utility bills. Most Californians don't doubt they're in the midst of a real energy crisis. But many contend that electricity shortages are simply the work of power companie</p>