Energy

Will Baucus’s HMO and drug company bucks foil Obamacare?

March 9, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> I remember flying around Montana on a national HMO patients' rights tour when Democratic US Senator Max Baucus was positioning himself as the real HMO reformer compared to longtime Republican US Senator from Montana Conrad Burns. Now Baucus, as the Chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, is positioned to dictate the terms of health care reform on Capitol Hill. But our new study of campaign contributions on Capitol Hill calls into question what he will deliver as the Senate architect of Obamacare. </p>

Cleaner & Cheaper:A Handbook of Transportation and Related Energy Choices 2009 and Beyond

March 3, 2009  ·  Judy Dugan

This handbook offers solutions for the most visible and perva- sive sector of the current oil/environmental crisis: transportation by automobile. Americans travel more than 3.5...

Arnold’s staff taking free trips on us

March 2, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-expenses1-2009mar01,0,5484509,full.story">The Los Angeles Times reported</a> over the weekend that several top members of Arnold’s staff charged California taxpayers thousands in airfare, hotel and meal costs with little oversight, and some without any documentation. <br />

California Consumer Groups Dispute ‘Hot Fuel’ Report

March 2, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> Two consumer rights groups in California are claiming that the lead energy commissioner involved in a gasoline "hot fuel" study has a conflict of interest because his wife serves in an executive position with the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA). One of the groups, Consumer Watchdog, sent a letter to Commissioner James Boyd on Feb. 9 about his potential conflict of interest, and on Feb. 24, Consumer Watchdog and Public Citizen filed a request for public records of the California Energy Commission, seeking correspondence between energy commission staff and Commissioner Boyd. </p>

Local Refinery Will Slow Or Stop For Repairs

February 24, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Tesoro Corp. has slowed production on a hydrocracker unit at the company's Golden Eagle Refinery in Martinez in a move that stoked a new debate over gasoline prices that have risen while crude oil prices have plunged. One consumer group was skeptical about the timing of the hydrocracker shutdown. "In most industries, that would not cause suspicion," said Judy Dugan, research director of Oil Watchdog, a unit of Consumer Watchdog. "But the refinery industry has a history of timing its repairs for possible economic benefits."

Consumer Group May Lose Hot Fuel Fight

February 20, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

A study by the California Energy Commission found the average temperature of gas in California is 71 degrees. At that temperature, gas is expanding and consumers are actually getting 1 percent less gas than they buy. Installing temperature gauges at the pump could automatically adjust the amount of gas pumped. But a commission report says the cost of installing that equipment would just get passed on to consumers and benefits no one. The California group, Consumer Watchdog, disagrees.

Chevron’s 2008 Profit New Record

January 30, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

San Ramon-based Chevron, though, quickly drew criticism from a consumer group that believes Chevron is too profitable and is using its cash improperly. "Chevron's robust health is no help at all to the rest of the country," said Judy Dugan, research director with Santa Monica-based Oil Watchdog. "They reached deep into our wallets for these profits. They are using the profits to buy back their stock. They are just sitting on the cash."

Bakersfield Refinery May Be Idled Indefinitely

January 29, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<strong>Big West is unable to buy the crude oil to keep the facility running. Job cuts are imminent.</strong> <p> "If this plant shuts down permanently, gas and diesel prices are going to rise in California," said Judy Dugan, a spokeswoman for Consumer Watchdog. The Santa Monica activist group has raised concerns to state officials that Shell Oil, a major crude supplier to Big West, may be withholding supply from the refinery. Shell is the former owner of the Bakersfield refinery and tried to close it several years ago before being forced by the state to sell it to boost competition. </p>

Boxer Asks California AG to Look into Alleged Market Manipulation

January 19, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer has asked California Attorney General Jerry Brown to investigate whether Shell Oil, in suspending crude deliveries to the Big West refinery in Bakersfield, Calif., was also attempting to manipulate the state's gasoline market. Both Boxer and Brown were prompted by the plant's United Steelworkers union and the California-based Consumer Watchdog to look into the allegations.

Meltdown 101: Why Gas Prices Rise While Oil Drops

January 16, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog says production cuts at refineries in California, for example, have far exceeded the state's drop in consumption. "The refinery cutbacks are for purely financial reasons," said Judy Dugan, the organization's research director. "Now is the time for government to insert sharper oversight and regulatory controls of the refining industry."

Gas Prices In California Jump Despite Oil’s Drop

January 13, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p> <strong>The average price soars 25 cents to $1.988 a gallon in less than a month, while the U.S. average rises 10 cents to $1.784. Reduced production of California-grade gas is blamed.</strong> </p> <p> Santa Monica-based Consumer Watchdog accused California refiners of manipulating the market to increase gasoline prices in the state.<br /> <br /> </p>

Don’t Get Used To Cheap Oil, Analysts Say

January 12, 2009  ·  Consumer Watchdog

Another part of the problem, said Judy Dugan, research director for the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog, is that oil companies didn't invest enough in new exploration over the past several years, as they raked in billions in profits."They're screaming, 'Drill, baby, drill,' but they didn't invest anywhere near where they should have been investing when prices were high," she said. "Now that prices have crashed, they say prices are too low, knowing full well prices are going to go back up."