Energy

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

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Defends Embattled DWP Ratepayer Advocate

November 12, 2015 · Mark Reback

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. During a segment on KNX’s “Ask the Mayor,” Garcetti said that ratepayer Fred Pickel is “advocating” for ratepayers. “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.

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

November 11, 2015 · Mark Reback

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. 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.

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

November 11, 2015 · Mark Reback

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.

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...

Ask for Your Free Jerry Brown Oil Map

November 10, 2015 · Carmen Balber

According to the Associated Press, Gov. Jerry Brown used public employees to investigate the potential for finding oil on his private land.

JERRY’S MAPGATE?

November 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

DRIVING THE DAY -- That recent AP investigation which revealed that Gov. Jerry Brown asked state workers to make a detailed assessment of his 2,700 acre Colusa County family ranch for mining and oil drilling possibilities has kicked up a cloud of controversy, including one consumer group that’s now urging every state landowner to take advantage of the same treatment.

Following Gov. Brown, Californians Seek Oil Records On Their Land

November 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

If Gov. Jerry Brown can have state employees check his family’s land for oil, so can you. About 200 people in the last week have asked California’s oil regulating agency for maps and records showing the potential for oil and natural gas drilling on their property.

Pump Prices Down A Bit, But Inexplicable Gas Gouging Continues

November 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

The days when oil companies could credibly deny they’re gouging California drivers just because they’ve dropped pump prices a bit appear now to be over. For every measuring stick except a comparison with the price of gasoline four months ago leads to the unmistakable conclusion that this state’s three biggest gasoline refiners — Valero, Tesoro and Chevron — are still gouging customers like they did at mid-summer, when prices topped $4 per gallon in many places.

No Deal! Judge Rejects DWP Multi-Million Dollar Overbilling Settlement

November 3, 2015 · Mark Reback

A judge once again Tuesday declined to accept a proposed settlement meant to resolve tens of millions of dollars in overpayment by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers amid the agency’s troubled $181 million billing system overhaul. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Elihu Berle suggested about a dozen revisions to the settlement deal, which has divided plaintiffs in a class- action lawsuit against the DWP. When the proposed settlement was first submitted to him in September, Berle instructed the plaintiffs to work out a revised deal.

Judge Proposes $17M Penalty For Improper Utility Talks

October 27, 2015 · Mark Reback

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A state judge recommended Monday that one of California's largest utilities pay a nearly $17 million penalty for engaging in improper talks with regulators related to the now-closed San Onofre nuclear power plant.

SCE May Face $16-Million Fine — Utility failed To Report Some Talks With Regulators Over The San Onofre Shutdown

October 27, 2015 · Mark Reback

A state administrative law judge has proposed a $16.7-million fine against Southern California Edison for failing to report talks that utility representatives had with regulators over the closed San Onofre nuclear plant. The ruling by Administrative Law Judge Melanie Darling is subject to final approval by the California Public Utilities Commission. Maureen Brown, an Edison spokeswoman, said the utility was reviewing the ruling.

Judge Consulted Edison On San Onofre Deal

October 21, 2015 · Mark Reback

Utilities commission says call was appropriate, critics say regulator is compromised As criticism mounted last year of a settlement deal that billed utility customers for 70 percent of the $4.7 billion cost of failure at the San Onofre nuclear plant, the state judge assigned to the case reached out to plant owner Southern California Edison. The California Public Utilities Commission, which employs Administrative Law Judge Melanie Darling, says the call was appropriate, and even an efficient way to oversee the plant’s shutdown.