Energy

GOVERNOR, LEGISLATORS MOVING TOWARD BAILOUT OF UTILITIES

January 5, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>BONDS ISSUED BY THE STATE COULD BE A KEY ELEMENT. OTHER OFFICIALS CALL FOR A PUBLIC POWER AUTHORITY. THE PUC APPROVES A 90-DAY RATE HIKE.</h3>Los Angeles Times Gov. Gray Davis and legislators Thursday moved toward a possible state bailout of private utilities struggling to pay runaway electricity prices.

Commission approves 9 percent power rate hikes for residents

January 5, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

The Orange County Register The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved modest electricity rate hikes and called for a new round of regulatory steps to solve the state's power crisis, while Wall Street signaled that the increases weren't enough.

Davis names aide to PUC before rate-hike vote Action shifts power to board Democrats

January 4, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

Sacramento Bee A day before the state Public Utilities Commission casts a critical vote on a recommended electricity rate increase, Gov. Gray Davis on Wednesday appointed his staff director to the five-member body

California Commission Proposes to Increase Electricity Rates

January 4, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

San Jose Mercury News Seeking to calm the state's turbulent energy markets, a state commission on Wednesday proposed boosting residential electricity rates by an average of $ 5 a month for three months, but the plan appeared unlikely to persuade lenders to keep California's t

Calif. Utilities To Raise Rates

January 4, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

Associated Press The state Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously Thursday to grant emergency rate increases to two cash-strapped utilities that serve 25 million Californians.

Regulators grant utilities temporary rate hike

January 3, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

The Associated Press The California Public Utilities Commission recommended emergency rate increases to two cash-starved utilities Wednesday, but only for 90 days and for far less than the utilities had requested.

Learn from Calif. mistake

January 3, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

USA TODAY The myth of electricity deregulation has met reality in California, and the result is a $ 40 billion debacle.

Electricity rate rage growing

January 2, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Consumers fight back with a Web site and calls for a ballot measure.</h3>The Fresno Bee As state officials talk about raising electricity rates by 26% to 40% to pay for blundering into a deregulated market, an outrage is building.

Californians fault Bush energy proposal

January 1, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

The Associated Press Many Californians, struggling with sharply higher gasoline prices and rising electricity rates, found little comfort in President Bush's national energy plan released Thursday.

Feds want surcharge to pay utilities’ debts

January 1, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Additional rate boost likely, cash would go to power suppliers</h3>The San Francisco Chronicle Federal energy regulators have proposed a surcharge on wholesale electricity sales in California to compensate generating companies, angering state officials who say the idea amounts to gouging consumers.

Edison rescue won’t require sale of lines

January 1, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

Sacramento Bee A key Assembly committee voted Monday night to support acquiring a five-year option to purchase Southern California Edison's transmission lines at double their book value as part of a $2.9 billion state rescue plan.

Consumer groups wary of new player

January 1, 2001 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>They fear it may saddle taxpayers with more debt</h3>The San Francisco Chronicle Consumer watchdog groups that have long bird-dogged the utilities on behalf of ratepayers are facing mounting challenges, and it's not only because of the power crisis.