Consumer Watchdog

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Consumer Watchdog

Energy

PG&E rate shock feared

PG&E rate shock feared

<h3>Higher charges will be sought, but CEO says they would be spread out</h3><p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>PG&E may seek to lift a state cap on Northern California's electric rates later this year, the company's top official said Wednesday, potentially exposing consumers to rate hikes months earlier than the utility company had indicated last week.</p>
Higher utility bills a step closer

Higher utility bills a step closer

<h3>PUC to hear companies' plans to pass costs onto customers</h3><p class="source">Stockton Record</p> <p>The California Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday opened a door that could allow utilities to double the price their customers pay for electricity despite a state-imposed rate freeze.</p>
Race Is On To Provide Help On Electric Woes

Race Is On To Provide Help On Electric Woes

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>With their final adjournment scheduled for midnight tonight, state legislators are in a frantic, last-minute struggle to ease the sky-high electric bills enraging San Diego-area residents and head off possible rate increases for millions of other Californ</p>
Electricity Compromise Emerges In Legislature

Electricity Compromise Emerges In Legislature

<p class="source">Associated Press</p> <p>A rescue plan for San Diego's strapped utility customers moved through the Legislature on Wednesday night, offering a $150 million bailout, lower rates and a speedup in power plant construction.</p>
San Diego Officials Decry Rate Plan

San Diego Officials Decry Rate Plan

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Camped in Sacramento to plead for relief from electricity bills that have cost San Diegans hundreds of million of dollars extra this summer, San Diego County supervisors on Monday attacked Gov. Gray Davis' proposed rate relief plan as a sham.</p>
Power to the People– At an Affordable Rate

Power to the People– At an Affordable Rate

<!-- excerpt --><p>As they munch on smoked duck ravioli and Squid ink tagliolini at a chic Italian eatery tonight (8/14) hosted by the Sempra energy conglomerate, DNC officials might pause between courses to consider the plight of utility ratepayers 120 miles to the south.</p>
Lawmakers to Hold Hearing on Utility Bills

Lawmakers to Hold Hearing on Utility Bills

<h3>Energy: Reacting to complaints about soaring costs in San Diego County, they plan to consider amending, delaying or killing deregulation bill</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>Faced with growing public outrage over soaring utility bills in San Diego and southern Orange County, state legislators Thursday agreed to hold a hearing on whether to amend, delay or even repeal the utility deregulation bill blamed for the increases.</p>
Oxy Cashes In On Oil Price Spike

Oxy Cashes In On Oil Price Spike

<h3>Energy: Soaring Profit Reflects Run- Up In Cost Of Crude Oil From A Year Ago. Other Companies Are Expected To Report Similar Results.</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In the first of a series of oil industry reports likely to rekindle consumer charges of profiteering, Occidental Petroleum Corp. said Wednesday that its profit surged to a record high.</p>
Oxy Cashes In On Oil Price Spikes

Oxy Cashes In On Oil Price Spikes

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In the first of a series of oil industry reports likely to rekindle consumer charges of profiteering, Occidental Petroleum Corp. said Wednesday that its profit surged to a record high</p>
S.D. urged to make best of a bad electric deal

S.D. urged to make best of a bad electric deal

<h3>Long-term contract would lock in prices</h3><p class="source">San Diego Union Tribune</p> <p>The proponents of electrical deregulation in California -- who promised that open markets would bring an array of consumer choices and lower prices -- are now encouraging San Diego to contract for years with a single power provider at prices likely far hi</p>
Insurance Policyholder and Patient Association

Insurance Policyholder and Patient Association

<h3>Q&A</h3> <p>WHAT IS AN INSURANCE POLICYHOLDER AND PATIENT ASSOCIATION? An Insurance Policyholder and Patient Association (IPPA) is a non-profit, statewide organization of insurance consumers. IPPA will advocate for fair and reasonable insurance rates and quality</p>
The High Price of Gasoline Is All About Power

The High Price of Gasoline Is All About Power

<!-- excerpt --><p>The consistently high gasoline prices in the California have been blamed on price "spikes" caused by shortages of fuel due to California refinery outages, crude oil production cuts by the OPEC cartel and California's special clean-burning fuel.</p>