Energy

EDITORIAL: For DWP Ratepayer Advocate, Tim To Switch On The Power

November 18, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The Department of Water and Power’s ratepayer advocate is more than halfway through his five-year term as the first occupant of the office created to give the public an ear and a voice at the giant utility.</p> <p>Are DWP customers being heard louder than before? Is the DWP less mysterious?</p> <p>Most would say no, and in that sense the recent criticism of ratepayer advocate Fred Pickel and his Office of Public Accountability is justified.</p>

EDITORIAL: L.A. Needs Its DWP Ratepayer Advocate To Speak Up

November 17, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>In 2011, when Angelenos were considering a ballot measure to create a "ratepayer advocate" to monitor the Department of Water and Power, the Times editorial board endorsed the idea, with a caveat. We said the advocate should be a well-regarded professional with deep expertise in utility operations, not a populist bomb thrower solely interested in blocking rate increases. And that's exactly what Los Angeles got in Fred Pickel — for better and worse.</p>

Only 1 Californian Got Custom Oil Map – Brown

November 13, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p itemprop="articleBody">State officials have defended Gov. Jerry Brown's request to have regulators map and study his family's ranch for oil, gas and mining potential — arguing that the work by the state was nothing the agency wouldn't do for other members of the public.</p>

Consumer Group Wants L.A. Officials To Oust DWP Ratepayer Advocate

November 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Years ago, Los Angeles voters decided that the city needed an independent advocate to scrutinize water and electricity rates and stand up for customers at the Department of Water and Power.</p> <p>Now a Santa Monica-based consumer advocacy group wants city leaders to oust the man who holds that job, arguing that he has failed to speak up as scandals dogged the utility.</p>

Op-Ed Commentary: Mayor Garcetti Needs To Lift ‘Chinatown’ Curse On DWP

November 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The following Op-Ed Commentary by Consumer Watchdog President, Jamie Court, was <a href="http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20151112/mayor-garcetti-needs-to-lift-chinatown-curse-on-dwp-guest-commentary">published in Los Angeles Daily News on Thursday, November 12, 2015</a>.</p> <p> </p> <p>The repeating real-life corruption at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power of recent years often feels as inevitable and unstoppable as the tragic cycle in the 1970s noir detective film 'Chinatown' that made the department famous.</p>

Consumer Watchdog: DWP Overbilled Ratepayers

November 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Consumer advocates called today for the replacement of the ratepayer of the Department of Water and Power, saying he has failed to properly advocate for the utility’s customers.</p> <p>Representatives of Consumer Watchdog sent a letter urging Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Attorney Mike Feuer to fire DWP ratepayer advocate Fred Pickel, saying “his failure to speak out for ratepayers during these last years of scandal makes clear he should be replaced with a true consumer advocate immediately.”</p>

Consumer Advocates Want L.A. Officials To Oust Independent DWP Watchdog

November 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Consumer advocates called Thursday for the replacement of the independent watchdog of the Department of Water and Power, saying he has failed to properly advocate for the utility’s customers.</p> <p>Representatives of Consumer Watchdog sent a letter urging Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Attorney Mike Feuer to fire DWP ratepayer advocate Fred Pickel, saying “his failure to speak out for ratepayers during these last years of scandal makes clear he should be replaced with a true consumer advocate immediately.”</p>

Amid Growing Calls To Find Replacement, LA Mayor Defends Role Of DWP Watchdog

November 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)</strong> — Mayor Eric Garcetti is defending the work of an independent watchdog of the Department of Water and Power (DWP) who critics say has failed to properly advocate for the utility’s customers.</p> <p>Speaking on a special edition of KNX 1070’s “Ask The Mayor” on Thursday, Garcetti said he supports DWP ratepayer advocate Fred Pickel.</p>

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Defends Embattled DWP Ratepayer Advocate

November 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Thursday defended the Department of Water and Power’s ratepayer advocate amid a watchdog group’s demands that the mayor find a new person for the job.</p> <p>During a segment on KNX’s “Ask the Mayor,” Garcetti said that ratepayer Fred Pickel is “advocating” for ratepayers.</p> <p>“He has some tough people working with him who really do hold the feet to the fire of the Department of Water and Power,” Garcetti said during the radio program.</p>

Want Oil-Field Data From The State? It Helps To Be Jerry Brown

November 11, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Ask California officials for a report on oil drilling prospects near your land, and you might not get quite the level of service Gov. Jerry Brown enjoyed when he made the same request last year.</p> <p style="">Brown’s query, <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Gov-Brown-had-state-agency-research-family-6614040.php">revealed by the Associated Press</a> last week, has prompted more than 270 Californians to ask state officials for similar reports for their own properties. And the responses some of them have received so far don’t measure up to Brown’s.</p>

Ask for Your Free Jerry Brown Oil Map from Department of Conservation

November 11, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>California Governor Jerry Brown, who poses as a "climate leader" and "green hero" at climate conferences and photo opportunities across the globe amidst fawning media coverage, recently used public employees to investigate the potential for finding oil on his private land, according to the Associated Press.<br /> <br />

Oil Slicked: How Refiners Spend Millions to Protect Billions in Record Profits.

November 10, 2015  ·  Liza Tucker

Californians have paid $7.5 billion more than they should have for their gasoline since California’s record gasoline price spike began in February of 2015, according...