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Consumer Watchdog

Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.
Google’s Motorola Deal OK’d, But Regulators Vow to Monitor Patents

Google’s Motorola Deal OK’d, But Regulators Vow to Monitor Patents

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2203" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_johndrawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; float: right;" width="133" height="200" />Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic have cleared Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility, but are vowing to keep a close eye on the Internet giant's behavior after the deal goes through.</p>
Identity Thieves Targeting The Dead

Identity Thieves Targeting The Dead

<p> <a href="http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/139299863.html">Click here to watch the video of this news broadcast segment</a>.</p> <p> <strong>Las Vegas, NV (KTNV)</strong> -- Your social security number is the one thing you're told not to give out to just anybody. But what happens to it when you die? One Valley woman says thieves are targeting the one person who can't fight back, her dead husband. So how could that happen?</p> <p> "You think when somebody dies their identity is supposed to die with them," said Joanne Edling.</p>
Gas Prices Headed Higher

Gas Prices Headed Higher

<p> <strong>Experts disagree on the reason, but agree prices are going up</strong></p> <p> <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Gas-Prices-Headed-Higher--137724073.html">Click here to watch the video of this news broadcast.</a></p>
2012: Few Jobs, But Gobs of Profit for Oil

2012: Few Jobs, But Gobs of Profit for Oil

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2206" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_judydrawingname.gif" style="width: 133px; height: 200px;" width="133" height="200" /><img class=" size-full wp-image-2338" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/images_gasorchanel_0.png" style="width: 250px; height: 178px;" width="300" height="214" /></p> <p>  </p>
U.S. Drivers Pay As Fuel Exports Hit Record Highs

U.S. Drivers Pay As Fuel Exports Hit Record Highs

<p> Faced with sluggish sales at home, American refineries are shipping gasoline, diesel and other petroleum products abroad in record amounts, turning the country into a net exporter of fuel.<br /> <br /> And that's one of the reasons gasoline now costs more than ever before, for this time of year.<br /> <br />
Corporations, Wealthy Dominate Initiative Process

Corporations, Wealthy Dominate Initiative Process

<p> SACRAMENTO, CA -- California's initiative process was intended to give people a way to arm themselves against corruption, whether it was from lawmakers in the Capitol or the special interests that controlled them.<br /> <br /> But in the 100 years since former Gov. Hiram Johnson rallied against the corrupt politics that permeated state government, corporations and wealthy individuals have adapted to California's initiative process and in some years dominate it by qualifying ballot measures that benefit them.<br /> <br />
State’s Drivers Ease Up On The Gas

State’s Drivers Ease Up On The Gas

<p> <strong>Fuel consumption declines even as the number of licensed motorists climbs.</strong><br /> <br /> California drivers, long a symbol of America's love affair with cars, areenamored with saving fuel these days, so much so that they're setting the national standard for burning less gasoline.<br /> <br /> In the first six months of this year, Californians used nearly 7.3 billion gallons of gasoline, down 1.7% from the same period last year and off 3.5% from the first half of 2002.<br /> <br />