PG&E's ClimateSmart program is about making PG&E look green, not making PG&E green

Governor Schwarzenegger replaced good legislation with poor executive order with no consumer protections, no green jobs and no environmental protections to benefit Californians.

Labor Day Call to save 1,000 Jobs from being eliminated by SoCal Gas' Smart Meter plan

TURN explains "smart meters" with a brief fact sheet

TURN pushes for efficiently-run energy efficiency programs and demands accountability from energy companies and state government

Waxman/Markey Climate Bill: A Missed Opportunity Coalition Statement

A groundbreaking study released today by The Utility Reform Network, TURN, proves that telephone service deregulation in California is a disaster, and phone company competition a myth.

Unbelievably, the CPUC voted to allow So Cal Edison to raise rates by billions of dollars. Initially, the energy giant claimed they needed to raise rates to keep up with California's rapidly expanding economy. In the current contracting economy, they claim they need to raise rates to prevent layoffs, a claim dissenting Commissioner Dian Grueneich said had "no basis."

CPUC President Michael Peevey granted $843,000,000 more than the CPUC's own analysts recommended. Compare Peevey's giveaways to Edison to the original proposed decision.

CPUC President Michael Peevey is giving his former employer, So Cal Edison, billions of dollars in rate hikes — millions more than the CPUC's own analysts recommended

A wish list delivered to the CPUC President Michael Peevey by his former employer, Southern California Edison, has re-surfaced in a proposal by Peevey to allow Edison to raise rates by over $2.1 billion.

Notice of Ex Parte Communication between SCE representatives and CPUC President Michael Peevey's staff

Utility companies rewarded for energy efficiency standards they didn't meet

Schwarzenegger reappoints reckless deregulators Rachelle Chong and Michael Peevey to the Public Utilities Commission. TURN Executive Director Mark Toney said consumer groups had hoped to see some fresh faces on the CPUC in 2009. “The Governor should appoint Commissioners who put affordability, accountability and sustainability first, rather than taking us back toward the dark days of reckless deregulation,” he said.

TURN attorney Marcel Hawiger explains how Californians can get "More Green for Less Green" and encourage renewable energy that doesn't force taxpayers and rate payers to spend more.

This victory is the result of consumers standing up, speaking out and fighting back, says TURN's executive director.

Consumer advocates TURN and DRA today filed a joint protest of AT&T's one-sided "Service Agreement" at the California Public Utilities Commission. The agreement, mailed to millions of AT&T customers throughout California, has caused widespread concern and anger. It eliminates customer rights to notice and legal remedies, and allows AT&T to impose any and all terms it chooses.

Affordable, basic phone service is something Californians have taken for granted for long time. That is likely to change.

TURN and its allies have won $115 million in refunds for Southern California Edison customers.

Unfortunately, the most reliable thing about PG&E is their greed. Despite all the extra money PG&E has already collected, it claims consumers in northern California must pay even more if they are tired of substandard service.

CARE for California- Why TURN is demanding that big business pay their fair share

Over a month after being ordered to restore legally approved rates for measured service, AT&T has basically thumbed its nose at the CPUC and refused to do so. AT&T raised rates for measured service on April 1, with no more legal process than a CPUC "advice letter" announcing the higher rates.

Higher utility bills are not the way to fight climate change.

A new survey of California consumers reveals that landlines are still the primary phones for the majority in the state, and that consumers continue to rely on basic local service for most of their essential calls.

SoCal Edison wants to charge about $100 more a year per customer. Learn why it happened, how it will affect you, and how to fight it.

New CPUC decision doesn't go far enough to protect consumers from AT&T's deceptive marketing practices, says TURN.

Clotheslines vs. climate change institute- read TURN's editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle.

CPUC'S "CLIMATE CHANGE" INSTITUTE MAY CREATE MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES

The California Commission that deregulated phone rates is looking foolish today in the face of yet another rate hike from AT&T.

A law that prevents further experiments with electric deregulation in California is in peril. Today, the California Public Utilities Commission openly decided to ignore a clear legislative prohibition by voting to initiate an investigation into reopening "direct access," the latest nickname for deregulation.

The Utility Reform Network (TURN) announces the appointment of nationally recognized consumer rights advocate Mark W. Toney, Ph.D., as Executive Director, effective January 1, 2008. Toney brings a wealth of organizing and nonprofit leadership, including 12 years of experience as a utility consumer advocate.

The California Public Utilities Commission today bucked a national trend toward lower profits for regulated utilities, guaranteeing inflated profits for PG&E, Edison and SDG&E.

TURN exposes utility mismanagement of energy efficiency programs- CA consumers subsidize energy-efficient lightbulbs for the entire US while PG&E, Edison & SDG&E demand customers pay even more for CFL programs.

A Public Utilities Commission judge has agreed with TURN that Southern California Edison should refund $160 million to customers and has also ordered Edison to pay $40 million in fines. The refunds and fines are the result of fraud and manipulation by southern California's largest electric company.

Wood is a nationally recognized expert on consumer issues who brings a wealth of experience and commitment to TURN’s board.

The Utility Reform Network today won $35 million in refunds for thousands of PG&E customers.

AT&T bills are going up again today, and consumers are crying foul. AT&T is tacking an additional $1.01 onto Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding and other custom features that it already raised prices for just months ago. Verizon has also hit customers with higher rates since last year's decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) permitting phone companies to raise prices at will, regardless of costs.

Letter to CPUC President Peevey: It’s now nine months after the Commission’s deregulation of telecommunications services in the state through its Uniform Regulatory Framework decision. It seems like a good time to gauge the success of this effort.

Find out how much more you're paying since the CPUC deregulated phone service.

Few reruns could be more unwelcome than a rerun of deregulation, and even fewer have been outlawed by the Legislature. But if the Governor and his representatives on the CPUC have anything to say about it, we'll all suffer through a remake of one of the worst chapters in our state's history, regardless of the law that prevents it.

Six years after their electricity deregulation scheme brought California to the brink of disaster, the greedy energy profiteers are back.

Letter from California legislators to CPUC commissioner Peevey warns against CPUC re-opening "direct access" for power companies.

Commissioner Chong had a year-long track record when her confirmation hearing was held, and it was a disastrous record from TURN’s perspective.

A judge at the state Public Utilities Commission today recommended that PG&E shareholders pay customers who were illegally back-billed $23 million in refunds.

The CPUC has granted PG&E a rate increase of $213 million per year, despite strenuous objections from consumer groups.

AT&T today was richly rewarded for the thousands of dollars it has poured into the Governor's campaign coffers with virtually unfettered access to California's lucrative cable market.

The recent decision by the Schwarzenegger PUC to deregulate phone service is the latest and most dramatic example of the Commission's ideological shift away from consumer protection toward a radically laissez-faire approach.

Consumer groups urged the California Senate Rules Committee not to confirm Rachelle Chong as a member of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), arguing that the Schwarzenegger appointee has ridden roughshod over consumer interests to promote a pro-telecom industry agenda.

A set of vital safeguards protecting consumers from marketing abuses by AT&T recently disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The safeguards were created by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in response to widespread customer deception and abuse by AT&T. Their disappearance was the result of last minute changes to a CPUC decision penned by Commissioner Rachelle Chong, changes other Commissioners say occurred outside of the normal legal process.

San Francisco -- TURN today said Governor Schwarzenegger's California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) appointees have presided over the most brutal attacks on consumer protections in the organization's 30-year history, and accused the Governor of repeatedly bowing to the wishes of his biggest political donors with devastating results for consumers. TURN said the traditionally independent agency has become increasingly partisan under Schwarzenegger, ignoring its mandate to protect utility customers.

Thursday, Sept. 14, San Francisco -- TURN is demanding $118 million in refunds for customers of Southern California Edison, approximately $23 for each customer. TURN called on the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to order the refunds yesterday, in the wake of revelations of fraud and manipulation by southern California's largest electric company. Edison collected $48 million in profits for its alleged superior customer service in 1997-2003 but has now admitted that its performance incentive mechanism numbers were pumped up with false data.

Thursday, August 24, San Francisco -- Today's CPUC decision giving Verizon, AT&T and other large phone companies carte blanche to raise rates is bad news for consumers. TURN, California's leading utility consumer representative, warned today that rate hikes will surely follow the decision, and that business and residential consumers will have little recourse when that happens.

Wednesday Aug. 23, San Francisco -- With the California Public Utilities Commission poised to deregulate phone service across the board, consumer advocates are warning that rapid jumps in phone rates are ahead. The CPUC is about to unveil a "Uniform Regulatory Framework" (URF), scheduled for an August 24 vote, that is a virtual wish list for mega-monopolies AT&T and Verizon, giving them the ability to raise rates at will.

Thursday, July 20, San Francisco --TURN today criticized the CPUC for allowing PG&E to charge consumers billions more in order to install "smart meters" in every one of their customers' homes. Installation and upkeep of the meters comes with a high price tag, but the benefits associated with use of the meters have not been proven.

Wednesday, July 19, 2006, San Francisco -- While PG&E urges customers to conserve in the face of skyrocketing temperatures, its response to skyrocketing electric bills is just the opposite. Already charging the highest rates in the continental U.S., PG&E has no intention of conserving customers' money. The company's proposal for yet another rate hike in order to fund a new jet, more executive bonuses and other luxuries has ignited howls of protest from customers.

July 6, 2006 -- Is it possible that the legislature can be unanimous, bi-partisan and absolutely wrong? For starters, check out electricity de-regulation in 1996: it passed the legislature with unanimous votes, and after a few years turned into the largest human-made (as opposed to natural) disaster that the state has ever seen. The current unanimous support for Speaker Nunez’ video franchising legislation (AB 2987) won’t cause the same disaster. After all, electricity is a very touchy product, used in virtually everything, required to be in balance at all times, and with no substitutes. Cable TV is just a means of entertainment, and allowing telephone companies into the video market while removing local regulation over the cable industry surely will not be society-disrupting.

June 19, 2006, San Francisco, CA -- Today the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of consumers by reversing a lower court judgment that Proposition 80, the 2005 Electric Consumer Protection Initiative, was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court noted that although Prop 80 did not pass, the issue of whether or not the initiative process can be used to confer additional authority upon the CPUC is a vitally important one.

June 5, 2006 -- Now that the verdict is in and Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling have been convicted of crimes unrelated to the California energy crisis of 2000-2001, the time is ripe for reflection on the enormous impact that a single company, Enron, had on the deregulation disaster that nearly bankrupted this state. While most of the public’s attention has focused on the various manipulative strategies, such as Death Star and Ricochet, that Enron’s traders employed to take advantage of consumers in California, the real story began much earlier.

May 25, 2006, San Francisco -- Today's announcement of a guilty verdict in the trials of Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, while gratifying, is not justice for California. TURN, The Utility Reform Network, said today that justice for California consumers requires refunds and a commitment from the Governor to declare that there will be no more future attempts to deregulate electricity.

Exactly one year after the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) suspended the Telecommunications Consumer Bill of Rights, consumers frustrated by inadequate service and inaccurate bills returned to the Commission with evidence that the same complaints that fueled initial passage of the measure continue to grow at an alarming rate.

A broad coalition of consumer groups today demanded rejection of a proposal that would drastically cut back on telephone consumer protections previously approved by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Opponents of Prop 80 hide true agenda

San Francisco ­ Consumer advocates and PG&E Company today announced agreement on a set of consumer protections that will help lower customers' winter heating bills. The proposals expand and improve upon the CPUC's recent efforts to mitigate the harmful effects of rising gas prices on consumers.

Two trials underway in California this week are grim reminders of the need for Proposition 80. In San Francisco, traders from Reliant will today face criminal charges for scheming to shut off California's lights in 2000/01. In San Diego, Sempra Energy is accused of conspiring to manipulate gas prices.

Oct. 24, 2005, San Francisco -- TURN, California's leading utility consumer advocacy organization, said today that rising natural gas prices must be addressed by a comprehensive and future oriented energy policy that encourages conservation, reduces fossil fuel dependency and prevents price spikes. In the face of Governor Schwarzenegger's failure to deliver such a policy, TURN has stepped into the void with Proposition 80, a consumer-backed initiative on the November ballot.

Proposition 80's objective is to say "never again!" to reckless energy policies. It puts California firmly on course toward a more reliable, stable and consumer-friendly energy future, and it does so by forbidding any future experiments with unregulated electric prices.

In 2001, Californians responded to the meltdown of the deregulated electricity market with unprecedented conservation efforts. But those efforts are threatened by "smart" meters - an experimental program that is no more likely to benefit consumers than the deregulation experiment did.

Consumer advocates today joined other opponents of the proposed SBC/AT&T merger in urging the California Public Utilities Commission to reject the plan. TURN, California's largest statewide utility consumer advocacy organization, said a super-sized SBC could mean super-sized phone bills for the consumers who can least afford it.

Sacramento, CA --TURN executive director Bob Finkelstein today told the Little Hoover Commission that the Governor's Energy Agency Re-Organization Plan is a blatant power grab that would make policy decisions less independent and cut off public participation. He said the plan does nothing to lower rates or create the stability and predictability California needs to put the deregulation disaster behind it. TURN, a statewide nonprofit membership organization with 30 years of experience in representing California's utility consumers, supports an integrated approach to energy policy over a political one.

San Francisco--Consumer advocates and PG&E customers today demanded an end to collection abuses by PG&E that have led to a wave of dangerous and costly shut-offs. Although the California Public Utilities Commission recently reprimanded PG&E for its failure to correctly bill hundreds of thousands of customers every month, consumers are still being harmed by the practice. TURN, California's utility consumer watchdog, called for a moratorium on shut-offs, enforcement of limits on back-billing and retroactive relief for customers who have already paid back-bills, in some cases after the customers had complained to the CPUC and not been given relief.

San Francisco--Ordinary consumers rather than shareholders of regulated utilities would benefit from President Bush's corporate tax cuts under a proposal presented to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today by TURN. Recent revisions to the Internal Revenue Code effectively cut taxes for manufacturers and other domestic producers, including energy utilities regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. The potential tax reductions for the utilities are substantial- 1% of generation-related gross receipts in 2005 and 2006, growing to over 3% in 2010. In the past, the CPUC has ensured that such savings are passed on to consumers. TURN urged the Commission to take similar steps in response to the latest changes in federal tax law.

San Francisco--The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and Ratepayers for Affordable Clean Energy (RACE) have joined forces to challenge a proposal by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to subsidize imports of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from Mexico to California by Sempra Energy. Sempra's plan to build an LNG receiving terminal in Baja is opposed by a broad spectrum of Californians, including environmentalists, clean energy advocates, consumers, internationalists and local communities.

San Francisco--Despite the unchallenged fact that the only way to prevent another energy crisis is to require the utilities and other power suppliers to rationally plan for the future, Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed AB 2006, legislation that would have required just that sort of planning. The veto confirms emerging concerns that special interests are in control of the Governor's energy policy and consumers have been shut out.

San Francisco--A multi-million dollar media and lobbying campaign by SBC paid off big for the phone giant today when the California Public Utilities Commission acceded to its demand to raise wholesale phone rates. SBC has been pushing for increases in the rates competitors pay for the use of the phone lines or UNEs (Unbundled Network Elements), increases that will result in windfall profits for the Texas-based company. Not only is today's decision likely to drive many of their competitors out of business, but it could also pave the way for increases in the rates California consumers will pay for local phone service.

San Francisco--The largest utility consumer advocacy organization in California today said it has been shut out of the Governor's office after the Governor failed to even discuss, much less respond to, consumers that want him to sign the bill into law, rather than follow through on his stated intention to veto AB 2006.

San Francisco--For the first time in recent history, a sitting California Public Utilities Commissioner has been formally asked to recuse himself from a vote. In an unusual motion filed late yesterday, The Utility Reform Network (TURN) and The Utility Consumers' Action Network (UCAN), California's established utility consumer advocacy organizations, jointly demanded that CPUC President Michael Peevey recuse himself from an upcoming vote on a controversial contract between Calpine and San Diego Gas & Electric. Normally, parties at the CPUC do not take this unusual step out of fear of Commissioner retaliation.

San Francisco --TURN today called on PG&E's overpaid executives to donate some of their unearned wealth to REACH (Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help) and other assistance programs that help customers avoid life threatening shut offs during the cold winter months.

When it filed for voluntary bankruptcy PG&E virtually assured itself of a bailout. The question of how much of a bailout was up to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and the answer the CPUC came up with was much higher than it needed to be.

San Francisco--Facing $9 billion in overcharges over the next nine years, PG&E customers today demanded that consumers be treated more like the utility when they can't pay their bills. After amassing billions in debt, PG&E used threats and high-priced lawyers to get the CPUC staff to agree to bail them out. At the same time, consumers and advocates suspect that the number and speed of shut-offs have increased, and want assurances that consumers will be treated as generously as the utility has been.

Decision ignores problems with SBC and Verizon phone service quality

San Francisco--An agreement between the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to overcharge customers $9 billion over the next 9 years has been rejected by a broad coalition of PG&E customers. The agreement is a proposed settlement between the CPUC and PG&E in the utility's bankruptcy case. Members of the coalition object to the agreement as "too rich." They support an alternative plan developed by TURN, The Utility Reform Network, which will permit PG&E to emerge from bankruptcy at much less cost to consumers while still accomplishing all of the stated goals of the CPUC/PG&E plan.

San Francisco--The California Supreme Court today embraced actions by the California Public Utilities Commission that deleted consumer protections in California's deregulation law. "This is a sad day," said TURN's executive director, Nettie Hoge. "The last official action has been taken to ensure that customers pay for every penny of deregulation's failure."

After quickly reviewing the settlement agreement released by the CPUC and PG&E, TURN estimates that the deal will cost customers much more than PG&E led the press to believe, at least $8.87 billion dollars.

CPUC votes to keep "direct access" from CA's failed deregulation plan

TURN will challenge PG&E's demand that customers pay it an additional half a billion dollars in excess rates.

Negotiated rate settlement a good deal for consumers, says TURN