Energy

Consumer Watchdog Calls Location of Governor Brown’s Climate Action Summit Misguided

July 6, 2017 · Liza Tucker

Santa Monica, CA—As Governor Brown challenges the Trump administration today on climate change by issuing a sweeping invitation to a global “climate action” summit in...

Fossil Fuel Electric Plant Developers Fund Brown’s Beijing Fling

June 27, 2017 · Liza Tucker

Santa Monica, CA — Consumer Watchdog today called on the Public Utilities Commission to require disclosure of any communications about new, unnecessary natural gas-fired power...

Brown’s Top Aide Gets $300 Ethics Fine, Critics Say That’s Low

May 25, 2017 · Mark Reback

The California Fair Political Practices Commission on Thursday approved a $300 penalty against Nancy McFadden, the former Pacific Gas & Electric executive who serves as Gov. <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/topic/politics-government/jerry-brown-PEPLT007547-topic.html" id="PEPLT007547" title="Jerry Brown">Jerry Brown</a>’s top adviser. Commissioners approved the fine without debate on a unanimous vote despite the objections of Consumer Watchdog, the Santa Monica advocacy group that filed the original complaint leading to the investigation.

Oversight Agency Fines Brown’s Aide, Campaign

May 16, 2017 · Mark Reback

SACRAMENTO, CA -- California's political oversight agency has found that a top aide to Gov. Jerry Brown failed to disclose sales of stock holdings and that two of the governor's campaigns did not properly account for nearly $3 million in donations. The Fair Political Practices Commission announced Monday the governor's executive secretary Nancy McFadden failed to report selling Pacific Gas & Electric stock in 2012, 2013 and 2014. She has agreed to pay a proposed penalty of $300.

California Democratic Party Faces $3,500 In State Fines For Mishandling Campaign Funds, Governor Gets Warning Letter

May 15, 2017 · Mark Reback

The California Democratic Party has agreed to pay $3,500 in fines for mishandling a pair of six-figure contributions, but state investigators stopped short of accusing party officials of laundering donations from the oil industry to the 2014 reelection effort of Gov. Jerry Brown.

California Democrats Fined, But Allegations Involving Oil Money Fall Apart

May 15, 2017 · Mark Reback

The California Democratic Party will pay $3,500 in fines for reporting violations, but was largely cleared of headline-grabbing allegations that it illegally funneled large donations from oil companies to Gov. Jerry Brown’s re-election campaign.

State Utility Regulators Will Again Consider Releasing San Onofre Emails

April 26, 2017 · Mark Reback

The day after then-Sen. Barbara Boxer called on the <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/topic/crime-law-justice/u.s.-department-of-justice-ORGOV0000160-topic.html" id="ORGOV0000160" title="U.S. Department of Justice">U.S.

PG&E Execs Land Pay Raises After Bill Spikes, Criminal Conviction

April 18, 2017 · Mark Reback

PG&E bestowed pay raises on several executives during a year in which the company was convicted of crimes related to the fatal San Bruno explosion and amid spikes in monthly bills for customers, according to a regulatory filing Tuesday.

Consumer Group Says Oil Industry, Not California Consumers, Should Pay New Gas Tax

April 5, 2017 · Evan Thomas King

Governor Jerry Brown and legislative leaders hail the Governor’s plan to fix roads, freeways and bridges across California as a “landmark transportation investment,” but a prominent consumer group says Brown’s gas tax to fix roads should come out of oil companies’ windfall profits — and not out of consumers’ wallets.

Consumer Watchdog Says Oil Companies Should Pick Up The Bill For Gov. Brown’s Gas Tax

April 5, 2017 · Evan Thomas King

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed gas tax to fix California’s crumbling roads, freeways and bridges should be paid by the oil companies that are reaping massive profits, not by consumers who are routinely gouged at the pump, a Santa Monica-based consumer advocate said Tuesday. Consumer Watchdog sent a letter to California legislators this week urging Brown to shift the burden to the oil companies that have amassed huge profits in California while motorists pay significantly higher gas prices than the rest of the nation.

Consumer Groups Oppose Utilities Panel Appointee

April 5, 2017 · Mark Reback

Consumer advocates and public-interest lawyers joined Thursday in calling on leaders in the California Senate to block the confirmation of one of Gov. <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/topic/politics-government/jerry-brown-PEPLT007547-topic.html" id="PEPLT007547" title="Jerry Brown">Jerry Brown</a>’s latest nominations to the Public Utilities Commission.

Measure to hike gas tax wins early approval; State GOP lawmakers and the governor clash as the transit and road repair bill heads to Senate floor.

April 4, 2017 · Evan Thomas King

Faced with a personal appeal by Gov. Jerry Brown, a state Senate panel on Monday gave the first approval to a measure that would raise gas taxes and vehicle fees by $52 billion during the next decade for road and bridge repairs.