Energy

Legislators to tackle utility crisis

December 31, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>They insist gifts from industry won't sway them</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>When the state Legislature begins its new session in earnest this week, the utility companies and electricity generators at odds over the state's power woes will be familiar faces at the Capitol</p>

NATURAL GAS SUPPLIERS ARE REFUSING TO SELL TO PG&E

December 30, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>UTILITY SAYS THE COMPANIES FEAR IT MAY NOT HAVE MONEY FOR FUTURE CONTRACTS. IT IS ASKING STATE FOR RATE HIKES.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>More than 15 natural gas suppliers are refusing to sell gas to cash-squeezed Pacific Gas & Electric beyond their current contracts for fear they won't be paid, the utility said Friday</p>

Utilities, consumers, governor ponder looming rate hike

December 29, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>State regulators have given electrical utilities extra time to show their financial hardship merits a significant rate hike for 24 million Californians.</p>

Nader, utilities clash at PUC: Power firms seek double-digit hikes

December 29, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Sacramento Bee</p> <p>SAN FRANCISCO -- With national focus on California's electricity crisis growing, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. began notifying customers that it wants to boost their electric bills up to 40 percent by the end of 2001.</p>

Let debt-ridden utilities go bankrupt, says Nader

December 29, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>PG&E aide labels idea irresponsible</h3><p class="source">San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>SAN FRANCISCO -- Consumer activist Ralph Nader stepped into the battle over California's failed electrical deregulation yesterday, urging the state to allow Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison to go bankrupt.</p>

ELECTRIC UTILITIES SEEK UP TO 30% RATE HIKE

December 28, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>EDISON AND PG&E PRESS FOR INCREASE AS THE PUC OPENS HEARINGS. CONSUMER GROUPS SAY COMPANIES GAMBLED WITH DEREGULATION AND SHOULD PAY THE PRICE.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>California's two biggest public utilities began pressing their case Wednesday for electricity rate hikes of up to 30%, the costly legacy of their ill-starred plunge into deregulation.</p>

CALIFORNIA UTILITIES FACE BANKRUPTCY

December 28, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">MARKETPLACE</p> <p>California regulators today considered whether to lift rate caps on electric bills that were a condition of deregulation of the power industry in the state.</p>

CALIFORNIA CONSUMERS FACED WITH RISING ELECTRIC COSTS WHILE POWER COMPANIES SAY THEY’RE ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY

December 28, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">National Public Radio MORNING EDITION</p> <p>California's two largest utilities have stated their case for sharply raising electricity rates.</p>

As an Energy Crunch Continues, California’s Utilities and Their Customers Clash Over Rates

December 28, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The New York Times</p> <p>While California's governor was in Washington discussing the state's energy crisis with President Clinton, representatives of dozens of interested parties converged on an emergency meeting here today to debate whether consumers should pay sharply higher e</p>

Utilities seek immediate rate hike to avoid insolvency

December 28, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>Two huge utilities are seeking permission to make consumers pay as much as 30 percent more for their electricity, saying the deregulated energy market has left them $9 billion in the red.</p>

Hearings get heated over bearing brunt of electricity deregulation

December 28, 2000  ·  Doug Heller

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>SAN JOSE, Calif._As utility executives pleaded for an electricity rate increase of up to 30 percent, angry consumer advocates denounced the state's deregulated energy system Wednesday and insisted that the public shouldn't bear the cost of its failures.</p>

Groups see little room for accord

December 28, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune</p> <p>State consumer groups -- several of which continue to work on plans to overturn electricity deregulation through a ballot initiative -- will be in no mood to compromise when they discuss the crisis today with Gov. Gray Davis and executives of the state's</p>