Watchdog

Although the utility quickly discounted the importance of it, the California utility consumer watchdog group TURN (The Utility Reform Network) gained a temporary stay last week from a federal appeals court to the court-approved settlement between state regulators and Southern California Edison Co. TURN asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to stay an Oct. 5 judgment by a federal district court judge in Los Angeles.

The industry-friendly Texas Railroad Commission would do abetter job of determining the fees the energy companies pay intothe state’s Oilfield Cleanup Fund — but it needs to beef up itsrole in regulating pipelines — according to a report by the TexasSunset Advisory Commission. Some of the criticisms noted areexpected to be corrected in pending proposals at TRC.

The industry-friendly Texas Railroad Commission would do abetter job of determining the fees the energy companies pay intothe state’s Oilfield Cleanup Fund — but it needs to beef up itsrole in regulating pipelines — according to a report by the TexasSunset Advisory Commission. Some of the criticisms noted areexpected to be corrected in pending proposals at TRC.

Utility watchdog group The Utility Reform Network (TURN) isn’tquite convinced that California’s two major utilities are hurtingfinancially from this summer’s wholesale power price spikes.

Utility watchdog group The Utility Reform Network (TURN) isn’tquite convinced that California’s two major utilities are hurtingfinancially from this summer’s wholesale power price spikes.

A House subcommittee last week passed a resolution citing threemembers of a public watchdog group for refusing to respond toquestions about payments it allegedly made to two federal officialsinvolved in oil royalty policy.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will go from being “awatchdog to a lapdog,” Commissioner John Hanger commented followingthe announcement the governor had chosen a staunch supporter ofPeco Energy, Chester, PA Mayor Aaron Wilson Jr. to replace Hanger.