Energy

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

Richmond Oil Refinery Fire Expected To Raise Gas Prices

August 8, 2012 · Mark Reback

<a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/consumer&id=8765591">Click here to view the broadcast of this news segment</a>. RICHMOND, Calif. (KABC) -- California drivers, brace yourselves for another rise in gas prices. Consumer advocates say a major fire at an oil refinery in the San Francisco Bay area, one of the country's largest, will push gas prices above $4 for a gallon of regular on the West Coast.

Senator Questions Why Refineries Cut Production

August 7, 2012 · Mark Reback

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- West Coast oil refiners cut gasoline production after a fire earlier this year at a Washington state refinery, creating a supply shortage that's left West Coast motorists now paying very high prices at a time when the rest of the nation is seeing prices plunge, according to an influential senator and veteran energy analyst.

Attack of Noir Satire Hits ‘Arctic Ready’ Shell Oil

August 2, 2012 · Judy Dugan

Oil vs Water: California’s Underground Battle

July 25, 2012 · Judy Dugan

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2206" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_judydrawingname.gif" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; width: 133px; height: 200px; " width="133" height="200" />The word "fracking" exploded into the American vocabulary just a few years ago.

Man Sues Over Car’s Advertised Mileage

July 6, 2012 · Consumer Watchdog

<a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=8726800">Click here to view the video of this news broadcast</a>.

Texas Woman Gets $1.4M Utility Bill In Error; Company Sent By Mistake Despite Flagging It

June 25, 2012 · Mark Reback

ABILENE, Texas — A lot of people gripe when they get high summertime electric bills. But Kristin Harriger’s bill was nearly $1.4 million. The Abilene, Texas, woman immediately called her provider, Potentia Energy. She quickly learned that her bill was an error. The utility provider also excused a $66,000 late fee listed on the bill. Potentia told the Abilene Reporter-News (http://bit.ly/LIdYBn ) it had flagged the bill and had marked it to be held, but the bill mistakenly got sent out.

Senator, Energy Investigators Slam Refinery Price Manipulation

June 7, 2012 · Judy Dugan

<img class=" size-full wp-image-2429" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/images_oilrefinery_0.png" style="width: 270px; height: 193px;" width="300" height="214" />The energy investigators who nailed Enron for energy price manipulation that nearly bankrupted California just took aim at oil refining giants including Chevron and BP. May the refiners’ gasoline-price schemes now come crashing down in an Enron-style heap.

Senator Questions Why Refineries Cut Production

June 6, 2012 · Mark Reback

WASHINGTON -- West Coast oil refiners cut gasoline production after a fire earlier this year at a Washington state refinery, creating a supply shortage that’s left West Coast motorists now paying very high prices at a time when the rest of the nation is seeing prices plunge, according to an influential senator and a veteran energy analyst.

Valero Confirms Settlement Reached In ‘Hot-Fuel’ Lawsuit

May 25, 2012 · Mark Reback

San Antonio-based refiner Valero Energy Corp. is among a group of major fuel retailers that have agreed to settle years-old lawsuits over temperature fluctuations that may affect the pump price of their products.

System For Doling Out ‘Hydrogen Highway’ Grants Is Polluted

May 15, 2012 · Mark Reback

Millions of dollars in "hydrogen highway" grants by a state commission are drawing cries of favoritism and collusion as they seem to guarantee that most refueling stations for the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles due to hit the road by 2017 will be owned by two large companies closely aligned with auto manufacturers. Very quietly, the California Energy Commission is letting carmakers -- seven of the eight companies involved are foreign-owned -- decide which proposals for building hydrogen stations get the grants, authorized by a law passed in 2007.

California’s Lofty Perch on Gasoline Prices

May 15, 2012 · Judy Dugan

Cool News About ‘Hot Fuel’

April 19, 2012 · Mark Reback

The fight over “hot fuel” has gone on for years, but now there’s welcome news: Three major gasoline retailers have agreed to settle lawsuits accusing them of selling fuel that hasn’t been adjusted for temperature. As Judy Dugan of Consumer Watchdog in California put it, “The wall of resistance is crumbling .…”