Energy

Feds want surcharge to pay utilities’ debts

January 1, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Additional rate boost likely, cash would go to power suppliers</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>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.</p>

Edison rescue won’t require sale of lines

January 1, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>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.</p>

Consumer groups wary of new player

January 1, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>They fear it may saddle taxpayers with more debt</h3><p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>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.</p>

Californians fault Bush energy proposal

January 1, 2001  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>Many Californians, struggling with sharply higher gasoline prices and rising electricity rates, found little comfort in President Bush's national energy plan released Thursday.</p>

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>

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>