California’s major utility watchdog group, The Utility Reform Network (TURN), asked state regulators Wednesday to reverse their approval in December allowing $214 million of utility ratepayer support for part of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s (PG&E) multi-year natural gas pipeline safety enhancement plan.
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Senator: Peregrine Raises Questions on Self-Regulatory Groups
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) last Tuesday questioned the effectiveness of self-regulatory watchdog groups, such as the National Futures Association (NFA), as the “first line of defense” against market abuse following the disclosure that Iowa-based Peregrine Financial Group (PFG) and its founder Russell Wasendorf Sr. allegedly defrauded customers of more than $200 million.
Enbridge: The Stealth Canadian Oil Pipeline to Gulf
While TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone XL oil pipeline has become controversial in general interest news media and politics, Enbridge Inc.’s. under-the-radar oil pipeline cutting through the nation’s midsection from Illinois to Houston-Port Arthur, TX, has the opposite image. The contrast drew general news media interest over the weekend.
Senator: Peregrine Raises Questions About Self-Regulatory Groups
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) Tuesday questioned the effectiveness of self-regulatory watchdog groups, such as the National Futures Association (NFA), as the “first line of defense” against market abuse following the disclosure that Iowa-based Peregrine Financial Group (PFG) and its founder Russell Wasendorf Sr. allegedly defrauded customers of more than $200 million.
DOJ Asked to Probe Natural Gas Shut-Ins
A Washington, DC-based watchdog group last week called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether large natural gas producers, notably Chesapeake Energy Corp. and ConocoPhillips, are conspiring to limit their production to raise the price of natural gas in violation of the antitrust laws. ConocoPhillips said the allegations are “without foundation.”
Watchdog Group Asks DOJ to Probe Possible Gas Price Manipulation
A Washington, DC-based watchdog group has called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether large natural gas producers, notably Chesapeake Energy Corp. and ConocoPhillips, are conspiring to limit their production to raise demand for and increase the price of natural gas in violation of the antitrust laws. ConocoPhillips said the allegations are “without foundation.”
California Utilities Rewarded as Consumer Group Balks
Over the protest of the state’s major utility consumer watchdog group, California regulators on Thursday authorized an additional $61.5 million in energy efficiency program incentive rewards to four major investor-owned utilities (IOU). The Utility Reform Network (TURN) argued that the utilities had not proven they deserved the windfall.
PG&E Utility, TURN Consumer Group Cooperate on High Gas Bill Efforts
Reversing their traditional adversarial roles, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and The Utility Reform Network (TURN) utility watchdog group announced Thursday they are cooperating on a winter bill mitigation program in the face of skyrocketing wholesale natural gas prices in the aftermath of the recent violent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. The utility announced two major new initiatives it has developed in conjunction with TURN.
Utility Watchdog Questions Nicor Gas Rate Hike Amid Investigations
Coming as the latest shot in the ongoing squabble between the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and Nicor Gas, the utility watchdog group Thursday blasted a $55 million rate hike proposed by the utility that received a favorable recommendation from two administrative law judges at the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).
Appeals Court Says Energy Task Force Records Exempt from FOIA
A federal appeals court in Washington, DC, scuttled a watchdog group’s efforts to obtain records and documents related to the secret deliberations of the national energy policy task force.