Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.

Will California Catch Oil Industry Price-Fixing?

July 6, 2016 · Mark Reback

Given stubborn premium, investigators may find market manipulation this time California Attorney General Kamala Harris is investigating whether major oil refiners have artificially inflated retail...

Consumer Advocate: Harris Hesitated to Confront Big Oil Over Gas Price Gouging

July 4, 2016 · Mark Reback

California Attorney General Kamala Harris has come around to confronting the big oil refineries over the big price gap between what we pay for gas here in California and what motorists pay in the rest of the country. But she took her time to get around to it, says Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court. “She’s a very cautious attorney general. I mean we’ve written probably two dozen letters over the years and very few of them get answered. I haven’t seen a lot of action out of this office. I’m glad we’re seeing it now.

Suspected Price Gouging By Oil Companies Has California Attorney General’s Attention

July 1, 2016 · Mark Reback

2015's high gas prices across California could have CA Atty General's office probing into suspected $10 billion gouging by state refineries. Santa Monica, CA —Do you still flinch when you're filling up? Last year, California drivers were gouged to the tune of $10 billion at the pump last year, according to the Santa Monica consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog . They reacted on June 30 to a Wall Street Journal report on California Attorney General Kamala Harris' probe into the high prices Californians paid for gasoline last summer.

California Attorney General Investigating Oil Companies for Alleged Price Gouging

July 1, 2016 · Mark Reback

California drivers were paying as much as $1.50 more per gallon than drivers in the rest of the nation. Santa Monica, CA — California drivers were gouged to the tune of $10 billion at the pump last year, Santa Monica consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog said Thursday. The group was reacting to a report from the Wall Street Journal about California Attorney General Kamala Harris' probe into the high prices Californians paid for gasoline last summer.

California Attorney General Subpoenas Refiners on Gas Prices

July 1, 2016 · Mark Reback

The California attorney general has issued subpoenas to several oil refiners to learn how they set gasoline prices, which are consistently higher in California than in most other states. Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., Valero Energy Corp. and Tesoro Corp. confirmed on Thursday that they have received subpoenas in recent weeks.

California Attorney General Subpoenas Oil Refiners In Gas-Price Probe

June 30, 2016 · Mark Reback

State Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris has issued subpoenas to oil refiners as part of an investigation into unusually high gasoline prices in California during the last year. California drivers paid pump prices that have been as much as $1.50 higher than the rest of the nation since last summer.

Brown, Lawmakers Plan To Reform Utility Regulator

June 28, 2016 · Mark Reback

SACRAMENTO >> Gov. Jerry Brown announced Monday he has reached a deal with lawmakers on proposed legislation to improve transparency and make other reforms at the embattled California Public Utilities Commission.

Reforms Advance For Utilities Commission

June 27, 2016 · Mark Reback

Brown, lawmakers reach pact on transparency, accountability Gov. Jerry Brown has agreed to significant reforms at the California Public Utilities Commission, which has been under criminal investigation over the shuttered San Onofre nuclear power plant and finds itself in the middle of several other controversies.

Gov. Brown, Legislators To Shake Up State Utilities Commission

June 27, 2016 · Mark Reback

In a bid to end back-room deals between utility companies and their state regulators, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders proposed a sweeping overhaul of the California Public Utilities Commission on Monday, tightening ethics rules and handing some of its powers to other agencies. The commission’s leaders would need to report in public any conversations with utility executives over setting utility rates. Should they fail to do so, the state’s attorney general could drag them into Superior Court and fine them.

Could Porter Ranch Gas Leak Disrupt The Gasoline Supply?

June 16, 2016 · Mark Reback

A potential natural gas shortage that could develop later this year due to a lack of storage capacity following the Porter Ranch gas leak could hamper the five Los Angeles area refineries that make gasoline. To assess the risk, the <a href="http://docketpublic.energy.ca.gov/PublicDocuments/16-IEPR-02/TN211730_20160606T155610_Notice_of_IEPR_Commissioner_Workshop_on_Transportation_Fuel_Sup.pdf">California Energy Commission is hearing from experts and the public at a workshop Friday in San Pedro</a>.

Court Support for FCC Net Neutrality Rules Keeps Drawing Crowd

June 14, 2016 · Mark Reback

Groups continue to weigh in in wake of decision Both sides of the debate over the FCC's network neutrality rules continued to weigh in Tuesday several hours after the Title II-based Open Internet order was <a href="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/court-upholds-fccs-net-neutrality-rules/157300" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upheld in its entirety</a> by a D.C. federal court.

Refinery Outages And Delays In Torrance Repairs Cause Higher L.A. Gas Prices

June 11, 2016 · Mark Reback

Los Angeles-area gasoline prices rose over the last week and could tick even higher as a result of unplanned refinery outages and delays in the Exxon Mobil Torrance refinery’s return to full service, fuel experts said.