Energy

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.

Driverless Cars Could Go On Sale By 2018, Says Former GM Exec

October 21, 2015 · Mark Reback

Driverless electric cars are closer to becoming a reality, but issues still exist. Nearly 3,000 roadway deaths could be prevented worldwide every day if humans could be removed from the driving equation. Nobody’s talking about taking people out of their cars, but rather, taking them out of the driver’s seat.

Eyes Open, Governorâ€™s Panel Takes On Gas Price Manipulation By Oil Refiners

October 16, 2015 · Cody Rosenfield

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2910" alt="" height="177" src="http://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/screen_shot_2015-10-16_at_12.06.53_pm.png" style="float: right;" width="243" />Being at the California Energy Commission to testify about how California oil refiners manipulated prices at the pump Tuesday was like prosecuting a case against a defendant who refused to show.

Panel Weighs Easing ARB’S Clean Fuel Rule To Prevent Gas Price Spikes

October 16, 2015 · Mark Reback

An expert energy advisory panel may recommend that state regulators consider easing the air board's clean fuel standards under certain circumstances to help prevent gasoline price spikes, along with several other options including the establishment of a "strategic inventory" of California-compliant fuel. At the same time, smaller independent oil refiners in California are urging the panel to recommend that they be exempted from the state's greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program to help prevent future supply disruptions and subsequent price spikes.

Consumer Advocates Accuse Gas Companies of Price Gouging

October 15, 2015 · Mark Reback

A watchdog group says a lack of competition in California has allowed gas companies to make an unprecedented mark-up at the pump If you live in California, and think you’re paying too much at the pump, you are likely not imagining it. Consumer Watchdog, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, said in a press release Oct. 13 that they found the gap between wholesale and retail gas prices is at an historic high in the state, signaling what they call price gouging.

California Oil Refiners Accused Of Gas Price Gouging By Consumer Group

October 13, 2015 · Mark Reback

A consumer advocacy group testified Tuesday that California oil refiners are gouging motorists by hiking retail gasoline prices well above the wholesale price of gas traded within the oil industry. In testimony before the California Energy Commission’s Petroleum Market Advisory Committee, Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court said the gap between retail and wholesale prices has never been greater.

Federal Lawmakers Again Blast ExxonMobil For Hampering Federal Investigations Ahead Of Tuesday Refinery Meeting

October 12, 2015 · Mark Reback

South Bay Reps. Ted Lieu and Maxine Waters have slammed ExxonMobil a second time for failing to comply with a federal investigation into a <a href="http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20150218/explosion-at-torrance-exxonmobil-refinery-injures-4-spike-in-gas-prices-expected" target="_blank" rel="noopener">February explosion </a>and September leak of modified hydrofluoric acid at its Torrance refinery.

Santa Monica Group Blasts Exxon’s Refinery Sale

October 2, 2015 · Mark Reback

Immediately after announcing this week the company is selling its Torrance refinery, which has shut down since an explosion in February, ExxonMobile officials came under fire from Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica. “Is Exxon trying to wash its hands of responsibility for ignoring subpoenas, allegedly hiding witnesses and endangering the public?” the nonprofit group which advocates on behalf of California consumers asked on its website.

Will Exxon Get Off The Hook With Refinery Sale?

October 1, 2015 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/which-way-la/unifying-health-services-in-a-county-divided">Click here and then scroll down to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>.

Troubled ExxonMobil Refinery In Torrance To Get New Owner

September 30, 2015 · Mark Reback

<div class="prose-body"> The troubled ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance is set to get new ownership under a $537.5 million deal announced today by petroleum refiner PBF. The 750-acre refinery has been under scrutiny by local and state regulators <a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/02/18/49911/explosion-at-exxon-mobil-refinery-in-torrance-resi/">since a massive explosion</a> at the facility in February touched off shaking the equivalent of an 1.7 earthquake.