Energy

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

Oil Speculators On The Run

September 2, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Government may clamp down on banks, funds and others that don't actually use crude. But will new rules bring down prices? "Using an essential commodity as [an investment tool] is crazy," said Judy Dugan, research director at Consumer Watchdog. "If you want a double dip recession, let's just get $100 oil again." Dugan is part of a growing chorus of people calling for greater government oversight of the commodities markets, where oil contracts are traded. The government agency that regulates those markets, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is starting to listen.

Alternative Energy Powerhouse Brazil Finds Big Oil

August 24, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Judy Dugan, a founder of OilWatchdog.org, cautions Brazilians against embracing an oil company as a national benefactor. She said the track record of global oil companies shows none "truly have the good of the citizenry first in mind. The oil business creates corruption in many governments and large sources of political influence for an oil company's benefit, not for the benefit of citizens."

Consumers To Benefit As Credit Card Law Debuts

August 19, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

NEW YORK, NY -- U.S. consumers will see on Thursday the first signs of the biggest overhaul of the credit card industry in at least two decades, as companies will be forced to provide customers with more time to pay their bills and be required to give more warning of contractual changes. "It evens the amount of power between consumers and credit card companies, but it doesn't prevent credit card companies from charging really significant interest rates if they can find a reason to do it," said Jamie Court, president of consumer advocate group Consumer Watchdog.

Gas Climbs Past $3 Per Gallon

August 7, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

California's gasoline prices are climbing past $3 per gallon for the second time this summer. And the reason this time is the same as the last - a bull market for crude oil. "Oil futures are being bought for every reason except supply and demand," said Judy Dugan, research director for Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit group pushing for regulation. "If these were just hats or shoes, it wouldn't matter. But because this is an essential commodity, it does."

FPPC Chief Questions Trips Supported By Polluters

July 31, 2009 · Doug Heller

The chairman of California's Fair Political Practices Commission, Ross Johnson, said widespread overseas travel by top state climate and energy officials on the tab of nonprofits funded by industry "raises very serious questions of propriety." Consumer advocates called for a halt to the practice. "There is a long-term public cost when private interests fund government travel," said Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog. "We are fooling ourselves if we think that Chevron funds these political escapades for the benefit of society."

Energy Firms Help Pay For State Regulators’ Far-Flung Trips

July 26, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

State officials who lead California's war on global warming often travel abroad on trips supported by the major greenhouse gas polluters they regulate, a Bee investigation has found. Industry lobbyists and executives routinely join them. "This is one of the chief loopholes companies use to exert too much influence on California policymakers," said Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, a Santa Monica group that monitors state government and has investigated some of the trips. "These are luxury vacations paid for by special interests," Heller said, adding, "These trips are very much about managing greenhouse gas emissions in a way that is most profitable for companies - and less effective than is needed."

Gas Pump Glug, Glug Is 15¢ Less Per Gallon — For Investors, Oil Stocks Lose Sheen

July 10, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Gasoline prices have dropped 15 cents in the past 20 days and are heading lower. But prices at the pump aren’t going down as fast as they should be, argues Judy Dugan, research director for Consumer Watchdog, a California-based group that identifies itself as fighting corrupt corporations and crooked politicians. “That’s the usual pattern with prices at the pump, up like a rocket and down like a feather,” she wrote in an e-mail. “But the bigger message from this spring/summer pricing roller-coaster is that it shouldn’t have happened in a wrecked economy, with gasoline consumption continuing to fall along with job losses.”

Gas In State Up 10¢ In Week Investors, Weak Dollar, Refinery Problems Fuel Rise

June 19, 2009 · Judy Dugan

Although experts have maintained for weeks that supply and demand levels don't support the nearly two-month-long rise in prices, the persistent increase has been fueled by investments in the futures markets, the declining value of the dollar, refinery problems and other seemingly unrelated factors. And consumers are feeling the pressure, said Judy Dugan, research director for Consumer Watchdog, a California-based group that identifies itself as fighting "corrupt corporations and crooked politicians." "Prices at the pump have risen for more than 50 days straight, which is a record and the reverse of other prices in the recession. This is very tough on consumers who are struggling with flat pay, fewer hours of work and layoffs," Dugan said.

Chevron Gives Schwarzenegger Another Big Check, An Advocate Cries Foul

June 3, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Just days after the package of ballot measures that Schwarzenegger supported flopped in the May 19 special election, Chevron donated $250,000 to the governor’s California Dream Team political account. The big check came on top of $500,000 the oil company had already contributed to the push for the ballot measures. All that loot prompted Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, to dispatch a letter today to the Legislature’s top Democrats, saying Chevron is “seeking protection” from a potential oil extraction tax that could help California with its cash troubles.

Supply Up, Demand Down, But Oil Prices Rise

May 24, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Another record-setting price spike? Gasoline rising back above $4 a gallon? "The fact it's going up now on nada, is proof that speculators are still in control," said Judy Dugan, research director with the nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog. "Unless there are curbs in place, it obviously could shoot through the roof again."

Campaign scofflaws fined – 3 1/2 years too late

May 22, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Vail Drilling - an oil company and one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's <a href="http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/energy/articles/?storyId=12233">largest donors</a> - had to <a href="http://www.fppc.ca.gov/index.html?id=48&show=detail&prid=691">pay a $6,500 fine</a> this week for failing to disclose a $500,000 contribution it made to the governator's campaign fund... in 2005.

Pump Prices Jump In State Oil Grows Costlier — Traders Betting On Further Rise

May 22, 2009 · Consumer Watchdog

Judy Dugan, researcher with Consumer Watchdog, said energy prices shouldn't be going up, no matter if people are hopeful or if it's a seasonal rise. "It's typical behavior in a completely atypical time," Dugan said. Oil prices "have nearly doubled. Nothing else in the economy or world has doubled." Consumption is down, she said, and even if Memorial Day travel creates a demand bump, it's not enough to declare a recovery.