Energy

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

Exxon Mobil Scraps Plans For Temporary Fix To Damaged Torrance Refinery

September 23, 2015 · Mark Reback

Just when Southern California motorists were expecting to see some relief from high gasoline prices in the next few weeks, they now may have to wait well into next winter — at least. Exxon Mobil Corp., still at loggerheads with air quality regulators over a short-term fix for the company's damaged Torrance refinery, appears poised to build a new pollution-control system that meets antipollution specifications, several experts briefed on the matter said.

Exxon Refinery Explosion Has Lasting Effect on Gas Prices: Consumer Group

September 23, 2015 · Mark Reback

Lower L.A. Gas Prices Coming Soon? Exxon Mobil Is Poised To Increase Output At Torrance Refinery

September 11, 2015 · Mark Reback

Exxon Mobil's plan to increase production at its Torrance refinery appears on track for approval, which could help lower gasoline prices in the Los Angeles region within weeks. The latest schedule would bring Exxon Mobil Corp. before the South Coast Air Quality Management District on Thursday seeking permission to use an old pollution-control system to replace one destroyed in an explosion at the Torrance plant in February.

Does DWP Overcharge Scandal Extend to Sweetheart Settlement With Over-billing Lawyer? Judge Puts Brakes On Settlement

September 10, 2015 · Jamie Court

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2893" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/images_lopezdwpbill.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="120" height="90" /> The LA Department of Water and Power's overbilling scandals are epic. They include <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-lopez-dwp-big-bills-20150520-column.html">an elderly couple who are Soviet emigrees and lived in fear because DWP issued a $50,000 bill to them</a>. When they complained, they were told to check for a leaky toilet.

U.S. Gasoline Prices Projected To Hit $2.03 By December

September 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

U.S. gasoline prices are projected to fall through the end of the year to almost $2 a gallon -- but California drivers won't be so fortunate. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday that low oil prices and the end of the summer driving season will continue to propel a decline in gasoline prices nationwide. AAA reported the current national average for a gallon of regular gasoline at $2.38. In California, the state average was $3.25, and the Los Angeles region was at $3.45 a gallon.

Capitol Watchdog | Big Oil Slick Captures Capitol

September 10, 2015 · Jamie Court

The Next Three Weeks In Sacramento Could Change Everything

August 26, 2015 · Carmen Balber

<a href="http://capitolwatchdog.org/article/three-weeks-sacramento-could-change-everything#overlay-context=article/three-weeks-sacramento-could-change-everything"><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2887" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/bigoilvspeoplemail2.png" style="width: 250px; height: 124px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="1200" height="596" /></a>The future of the Earth, and California's dependence on Big Oil, could be determined in these last three weeks of the Legislative session.

Big Oil’s Shadow War On Billionaire Steyer

August 19, 2015 · Mark Reback

Oil companies that bankrolled a $9.7 million effort in 2014 to block laws against fracking in California now are focusing their sights on Tom Steyer, the billionaire hedge- fund founder turned climate-change activist. The top individual political donor in the United States last year, Steyer has put millions of his $2.7 billion personal fortune into the cause, hired Gov. Jerry Brown’s former top spokesman and challenged Chevron Corp. Chief Executive John Watson to a public debate on gas prices.

Another View: Big Oil Is Gouging Californians

August 19, 2015 · Mark Reback

<div id="content-body-16194260-31551845"> The math is so simple, anyone should be able to grasp it: Triple the gasoline prices + Triple oil refiner profits = Golden State Gouging. Instead, Dan Walters ignores facts and misuses gas pricing data to wrongly blame environmental standards for unprecedented pain at the pump that is the result of historic oil industry profiteering (“<a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/dan-walters/article30735885.html" target="_blank" title="" rel="noopener">Steyer’s flunking logic test</a>,” Aug. 12).

Gas Prices Falling Nearly Everywhere But California

August 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

<h3 itemprop="alternativeHeadline">California consumer groups cry foul but oil companies blame elements beyond their control</h3> Gas prices are tumbling, except where they're not. Nationwide, average prices are falling at the fastest rate since January due to cheaper crude oil costs and the resolution of some refinery issues but in California, the gap between local prices and the rest of the country is bigger than ever.

L.A. Gas Prices Drop More Than 20 Cents From July Highs

August 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

After soaring well above the rest of the nation, the average gasoline price in the Los Angeles region fell almost 25 cents below their highs of a month ago. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the L.A. area Monday stood at $3.81, according to AAA. In mid-July, AAA’s survey found the average price for the region reached a high of $4.05 a gallon. Analysts attributed the drop to falling crude oil prices and increased production at U.S. refineries.

Watchdog: California Drivers Being Gas-Gouged On ‘Unprecedented’ Scale In 2015

August 6, 2015 · Mark Reback

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- California gas prices are typically among the most expensive in the nation, but a consumer advocacy group on Wednesday called for legislation to put a stop to what it says is major league price-gouging -- to the tune of nearly $5 billion so far this year.