Insurance

Ouster of PUC Official Sought — Attorney General Bill Lockyer approved the ‘quo warranto’ suit against PUC member Henry Duque.

December 29, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Francisco Daily Journal</p> <p>SAN FRANCISCO - A state public utilities commissioner should be ousted because he bought stock in a company he regulates, a government watchdog group claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday. In a rare quo warranto lawsuit targeting a state official, t</p>

EDISON SEEKS OK FOR 2 YEARS OF RATE HIKES

December 29, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>THE COMPANY'S PROPOSAL WOULD ALLOW INCREASES EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE CUMULATIVE BOOST COULD BE AS HIGH AS 76%</h3><p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>In addition to demanding an immediate 30% increase in electricity rates, Southern California Edison is asking the state Public Utilities Commission for the right to continue raising bills for the next two years, officials said Thursday.</p>

Energy Crisis Is Forcing Davis Into a Balancing Act

December 22, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>Gov. Gray Davis has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in political contributions from some of the very same energy companies he now says are gouging California consumers.</p>

California’s two largest utilities could lose credit rating on Wall St.

December 22, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>SAN JOSE, Calif._Intensifying pressure on state officials, a leading Wall Street rating firm said it will drastically lower the credit status of California's two largest electric utilities unless the state approves a consumer rate increase this week.</p>

Few taking advantage of new low-cost auto insurance program

November 30, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>Five months after California launched its landmark program to provide auto insurance to low-income drivers, hardly anyone is taking advantage of it - and state officials want to know why.</p>

State Supreme Court declines to consider Northridge claims suit

November 29, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press</p> <p>The California Supreme Court refused Wednesday to consider the insurance industry's challenge to a new state law that gives thousands of Northridge earthquake victims a year to refile their claims.</p>

State Farm Offers Big Discounts for Vans, SUVs

November 29, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Francisco Chronicle</p> <p>State Farm, the nation's biggest automobile insurer, unveiled a new pricing policy yesterday that offers hefty discounts to drivers of sport utility vehicles, vans and luxury cars. The company maintains that those vehicles are the safest for their occupa</p>

STATE FARM PLAN GIVES RATE BREAK TO BIG VEHICLES

November 29, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Los Angeles Times</p> <p>State Farm Insurance Cos., the largest auto insurer in California and the nation, unveiled a controversial plan Tuesday to lower insurance premiums for drivers of some of the biggest vehicles on the road while boosting rates for smaller, cheaper cars.</p>

Consumer Activist Pushes Ballot Initiative To Undo California-Power Deregulation

November 29, 2000  ·  Harvey Rosenfield

<p class="source">The Wall Street Journal</p> <p>LOS ANGELES -- Harvey Rosenfield, a consumer activist who has made a career of tapping public anger at corporate interests, is drafting a ballot initiative aimed at reversing electricity deregulation in California.</p>

Activist targets utilities for ballot measure

November 29, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>The proposal in the works for the 2002 election would restore regulation of privately owned power firms.</h3><p class="source">Riverside Press-Enterprise</p> <p>SACRAMENTO Depicting producers and distributors of electricity as a menace to California's prosperity, a consumer activist vowed Tuesday to organize a ratepayers' revolt in the next statewide general election.</p>

PG&E plan to raise rates 16 percent sparks outcry from consumers

November 23, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">San Jose Mercury News</p> <p>SAN JOSE, Calif._Beginning Jan. 1, the typical Bay Area resident's electric bill could rise $9 a month _ a 16.5 percent jump that could be followed by several more over the next few years.</p>

Insurers ask Supreme Court to block refiling of Northridge claims

November 22, 2000  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Associated Press State & Local Wire</p> <p>Insurers asked the state Supreme Court Wednesday to block a new law that allows thousands of victims of the 1994 Northridge earthquake to refile their claims for one year beginning Jan. 1.</p>