Energy

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

BP Berkeley Venture Means Big Money, Big Controversy

May 14, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Dow Jones Energy Service Berkeley must not become "a green wash for one of the world's largest oil companies," said a letter sent by FTCR to two of the university's top administrators and California's Lt. Governor John Garamendi. The letter said Berkeley should spike the deal if BP insists on control.

Big Oil buys Sacramento;

May 14, 2007 · Jamie Court

Los Angeles Times Who's afraid of Big Oil? Apparently, California's elected officials. Gasoline prices are stuck well above last year's record highs and about 50 cents above the national average. Yet state politicians are not saying or doing a thing, except for raking in political cash from the oil companies and flying around the world on their dime.

Big Oil buys Sacramento;

May 14, 2007 · Jamie Court

<h3>Why you're not hearing a peep from California politicians on record-high gas prices.</h3>Los Angeles Times Who's afraid of Big Oil? Apparently, California's elected officials. Gasoline prices are stuck well above last year's record highs and about 50 cents above the national average. Yet state politicians are not saying or doing a thing, except for raking in political cash from the oil companies and flying around the world on their dime.

Consumer advocates say ‘hot fuel’ may inflate price at the pump

May 10, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Associated Press Fuel expands when temperatures rise, but most retail gas station nozzles don't adjust for volume differences based on temperature. That oversight means California motorists could be losing up to 3 cents on every gallon, or $480 million annually, according to an estimate by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "It's outrageous that Americans cannot rely on an honest measurement for every gallon of gasoline they pump," said the foundation's president, Jamie Court, in a recent letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

6 ways to lower gas prices

May 10, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

CNNMoney.com With record profits at Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP and other oil companies, it's no wonder a lot of Americans think they are getting fleeced by Big Oil. "I don't think they're meeting somewhere and saying 'oh, let's get the price up another 7 cents this weekend,'" said Judy Dugan, research director at the Center of Taxpayer and Consumer Rights. "But they know very well they can make more money by making less gasoline."

FTCR to Gov: Return Chevron money

May 10, 2007 · Jamie Court

Sacramento Bee (California) "If Gov. Schwarzenegger keeps Chevron's cash and continues his political silence while Chevron robs California motorists blind, he's not just a girlie man, he's Chevron's girlie man," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation, in a statement. "To take $100,000 from Chevron at the same time as gas prices in California surpassed record highs is to spit in the face of Californians."

Group Calls on Calif. Lawmakers to Act on Spiraling Gas Prices

May 9, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

CSNews.com "Oil companies have spent over $90 million on state politics since 2006 to buy political silence about high gasoline prices," alleged Jamie Court, president of FTCR. "It's time Governor Schwarzenegger bucked the $3,855,703 his political committees have received from the oil industry and forced a conversation about this problem. If Schwarzenegger refuses to even kick-start start the debate about an issue of this magnitude for California motorists and businesses, then he is the girlie man."

Ill effects of gas prices

May 9, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (California) Getting more attention is the consumer-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, which says, hold on a minute. It is not uncontrollable forces, but rather, oil companies squeezing more profits out of less revenues. For example, Exxon Mobil reported first quarter profits last month of $9.6 billion, a 10 percent bump from 2006, even while revenues were down. Even after investing in oil exploration -- something oil companies emphasize a lot during p.r. campaigns -- the Foundation reported Exxon still had $34.6 billion in cash on hand.

You may not be getting all you pay for at the pump

May 9, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

Los Angeles Times Consumer advocates want U.S. fuel retailers to install nozzles that compensate for temperature changes. "It's outrageous that Americans... cannot rely on an honest measurement for every gallon of gasoline they pump," Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said in a recent letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Court's group estimates that California drivers are losing at least 3 cents a gallon.

Gas prices up over $3 a gallon

May 8, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

NBC-TV Nightly News (National 6:30 PM EST) Oil watchdog groups say profits for the refining part of companies like Exxon and Chevron are way up. Ms. JUDY DUGAN (<a href="http://www.oilwatchdog.org">Oilwatchdog.org</a>): All of the refiners are making more money than ever.

State’s gasoline prices at new high;

May 8, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The average rises to $3.461 as refineries continue to struggle with production.</h3>Los Angeles Times In California, which has the nation's highest retail price, one consumer advocacy group urged Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature to convene a special session to investigate. "If oil companies won't make enough gasoline to allow prices to moderate, and if they can't keep their refineries running properly, they need more oversight," said Judy Dugan, research director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica.

Refinery Backlog Prompts Spike in Gas Prices

May 7, 2007 · Consumer Watchdog

All Things Considered (National Public Radio) Consumer advocate Jamie Court of OilWatchdog.org sees a more sinister explanation. He compares this year's string of refinery shutdowns to the California electricity crunch six years ago, when some power-plant operators deliberately idled plants in order to drive up the price. Mr. JAMIE COURT (Consumer Advocate, <a href="http://www.oilwatchdog.org">OilWatchdog.org</a>): "When oil companies aren't being watched, and when there's no legal bar for them to close down refineries so they can jack up the price of gasoline, they'll do it, and there's nothing we can do."