Energy

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

Self-Serving Prop. 10 Sounds Good, Should Lose

September 11, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

It's never hard to find self-serving propositions on the California ballot. But there has never been anything quite like this fall's Proposition 10, even in a state that has seen the tobacco industry run initiatives aiming to kill municipal restrictions on smoking and watched power companies put hundreds of millions of dollars behind measures they figured would bring them tens of billions.

Chief of Prison Guards Union Fighting His Own Insurgents

September 10, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

According to figures with the secretary of state that were compiled by Consumer Watchdog, a nonpartisan consumer protection group, the union has spent $13.5 million on campaigns and candidates since 2005. Of course, the guards may meet their match in Schwarzenegger. The same records show that the governor has raised $128.8 million since the 2003 election that recalled Gov. Gray Davis and installed Arnold in office. "Special interest money against special interest money. It's like watching 'Alien vs. Predator,' " said Doug Heller, executive director of Consumer Watchdog.

Lost and Phoned

September 7, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

For Those Prone To Misplacing Their Cell, Providers Offer Some Help Companies will often try to pawn off a "refurbished" phone to their insured customers anyway, he said, and it may not even be the same model you had. Some insurance plans also require customers to pay a deductible of about $50 and file a police report to prove the phone was stolen, he said. "Imagine if you had insurance on your car, it was totaled, and they sent you somebody else's used car," said Harvey Rosenfield, founder of Consumer Watchdog, based in Santa Monica, Calif. "Generally speaking, it's a rip-off."

Water bond anyone?

August 25, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

Governor Schwarzenegger just posted a $25,000 contribution to his redistricting committee from a company called AECOM. Guess what they do?<a href="http://hoovers.com/aecom/--ID__47621--/free-co-profile.xhtml"></a>

Arnold’s big idea: Use less gas

August 19, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

It seems the extent of Governor Schwarzenegger's solution for Californians to help combat sky-high gas prices is... promoting more efficient use of gasoline. Gee thanks for the big idea, Arnold. It's not the first time Arnold has <a href="http://www.arnoldwatch.org/blogs/blogs_001133.php3">tried to appear "green", while staying the gasoline-powered course</a>, not to mention the gov's attempts at <a href="http://www.arnoldwatch.org/blogs/blogs_001119.php3">"greenwashing" his image</a>.

The Offshore Drilling Fallacy

August 14, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

Open the California coast and the offshore waters of Florida and the Carolinas to new oil drilling and prices at the pump will drop, contends Republican presidential candidate John McCain. And Democratic rival Barack Obama soon after eases his...

Rounding out a quorum at stem cell meeting

August 13, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

Plagued yet again by the problem of a lack of a quorum, California's stem cell oversight committee Tuesday evening coped in an unusual way. The board, known as the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, essentially drafted a member from the...

Save On Gas With Morning Fill-Ups? Don’t Bet On It

August 11, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

Some people say it’s better to buy your <a href="http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/gas_prices/index.html">gasoline</a> first thing in the morning, rather than in the heat of the day. That’s because gasoline, like all liquids,...

What’s best day to gas up? It depends

August 9, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

When is the best time of the week to buy gas? Best time of day? It doesn't matter. Fueling up early in the day won't help. Consumer Watchdog says double- or triple-walled storage tanks act as a thermos, keeping the fuel at the temperature it was when it was poured into the tank.

Chevron’s Record Profit Fleeting?

August 1, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

Chevron Corp. rocketed to record quarterly profits of $5.98 billion, the oil giant reported Friday, but some industry watchers pilloried Chevron's profits. "Chevron brought us less oil this quarter and still made all-time record profits," said Judy Dugan, research director for Consumer Watchdog.

Exxon’s Second-Quarter Profit Breaks Its Own Record

August 1, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

The oil giant brings in $11.68 billion, the largest profit for a U.S. company, and still fails to meet analysts' expectations. Critics say Exxon and others aren't doing enough to reduce gas prices. ExxonMob...

Gasoline Sheds 8 Cents in a Week at State Pumps

July 25, 2008 · Consumer Watchdog

50-Cent Slide Foreseen as Drop in Demand Deflates Crude Oil LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Gasoline prices have fallen nearly 10 cents a gallon in the past week as crude oil lost steam because of weak demand in a sluggish...