The energy industry is the second largest financial contributor to President Bush’s upcoming inaugural celebration on Jan. 20, according to a Washington, DC-based watchdog group. Twelve energy corporations and executives, including nine from the oil and natural gas industry, have chipped in a total of $2.3 million for the event, said Public Citizen. The single largest financial contributor is the finance and investment industry, kicking in $5 million, it noted. Of the $17.8 million raised so far for the inauguration, Public Citizen said records show that $17.1 million, or 96%, came from corporations and their senior executives, with two corporations — Ameriquest and Marriott International — effectively skirting the $250,000 cap on contributions by giving multiple checks through their subsidiaries.
Watchdog
Articles from Watchdog
$800 Million Rate Decrease for PG&E Prompts Cries for More
While California’s utility watchdog, The Utility Reform Network, called PG&E’s $800 million rate cut last week for electric utility customers “a long way from fair,” utility customers still will be looking their first rate cut since before the 2000-2001 electricity crisis.
Bolivian LNG Consortium Singled Out by CA Utility Consumer Group
The Utility Reform Network (TURN), California’s largest utility watchdog group, Friday reached beyond U.S. borders to side with Bolivians revolting against their government, partially in protest to a project designed to export LNG to North America.
GAO’s First-Year Report Card for FERC Monitoring Office Far From Glowing
At the end of its first year of operation, a federal watchdog agency last week concluded that FERC’s Office of Market Oversight and Investigations (OMOI) is severely hamstrung in its ability to effectively monitor the wholesale natural gas and electricity markets.
GAO’s First-Year Report Card for FERC Monitoring Office Far From Glowing
At the end of its first year of operation, a federal watchdog agency has found that FERC’s Office of Market Oversight and Investigations (OMOI) is severely hamstrung in its ability to effectively monitor the wholesale natural gas and electricity markets.
CUB to Appeal Ruling Rejecting Fine Against Nicor
A Chicago-based watchdog group signaled last week it plans to appeal a regulatory law decision that rejected its claim for a $27 million fine against Nicor Inc.’s affiliate Nicor Gas for allegedly withholding information about profits generated by a controversial gas-purchase program.
CUB to Appeal Ruling Rejecting Fine Against Nicor
A Chicago-based watchdog group signaled Monday it plans to appeal a regulatory law decision that rejected its claim for a $27 million fine against Nicor Inc.’s affiliate Nicor Gas for allegedly withholding information about profits generated by a controversial gas-purchase program.
IL Group Says Ameren/CILCO Overstated Expenses in Rate Hike Request
The Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB), a non-profit statewide utility watchdog organization created by the state legislature, told state regulators Thursday to throw out the $14 million base gas rate increase proposed by Ameren/CILCO, which serves about 250,000 gas customers in the state. CUB said a financial analyst it commissioned and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office determined that the utility overstated its expenses by $11 million in order to justify the rate increase.
IL Group Says Ameren/CILCO Overstated Expenses in Rate Hike Request
The Illinois Citizens Utility Board (CUB), a non-profit statewide utility watchdog organization created by the state legislature, told state regulators Thursday to throw out the $14 million base gas rate increase proposed by Ameren/CILCO, which serves about 250,000 gas customers in the state. CUB said a financial analyst it commissioned and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office determined that the utility overstated its expenses by $11 million in order to justify the rate increase.
Nicor Charged with Deceptive Marketing; ICC Investigates
Illinois’ statewide nonprofit utility watchdog, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), on Wednesday filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Nicor Gas and an unregulated sister company, Nicor Services, of deceptively marketing its “Fixed Bill” plan, which the lawsuit claims has caused some of Illinois consumers’ natural gas bills to more than double. CUB first made the charges of deceptive practices against the Naperville, IL-based company in April (see Daily GPI, April 12).
