Breaking News Archives - Public Watchdogs: Because the Public has a right to know

The road to Hell is paved with the new “Vehicle Miles Traveled” tax

March 12, 2023March 13, 2023 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

Fourteen questions and problems about the Vehicle Miles Traveled tax (VMT) which will violate your privacy, increase your energy costs, and expose you to identity theft and government surveillance. By Nina J. Babiarz, Public Watchdogs’ Director of Development SANDAG, the San Diego Association of Governments is planning to impose a county-wide tax on motorists, and this time, it’s personal. The Vehicle Miles Traveled tax will be…

Yes, you are getting gouged on the price of gasoline

February 16, 2023February 17, 2023 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

Oil prices are down, yet gas prices are up. Expect $5 a gallon or more throughout the summer, even if oil prices crash. Today, AAA has reported that the official average price for a gallon of gas in San Diego is $4.737, about a penny more than the price was last year on the same day. If there was ever proof that we are getting gouged,…

En banc natural gas hearing at CPUC spawned by Governor’s demand for lower gas prices

February 7, 2023February 7, 2023 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

Yesterday, California Governor Gavin Newsom sent a demand letter to FERC, the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission to initiate an investigation into natural gas price manipulation. In a separate press release, Newsom has claimed that “Natural Gas Price Relief is on the way!” According to Newsom, The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently accelerated the delivery of electricity bill credits of $90 to $120 to provide…

Public Utility Commiission Meeting Tonight on San Onofre Nuclear

January 10, 2023January 10, 2023 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

There is a very important online public meeting on the decommissioning of the failed San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) tonight at 5:00PM. To log in at 5:00 PM, CLICK HERE for instructions This is a “Public Participation Hearing” hosted by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) so that the judges and commissioners can gain a first-hand understanding and insight into the public’s concerns with San…

Questions about the so-called “Natural Gas Shortage” and why your utility bills are increasing

January 8, 2023January 8, 2023 Public Watchdogs 2 Comments

At this time, there is global natural gas shortage due to harsh winters, the Ukraine crisis, and increased demand. However, the current prices hikes for customers of Southern California Gas, SDG&E, and ultimately, Sempra Energy, may be completely unjustified and should command the attention of energy regulators. So far, SDG&E has claimed that it is unlawful for them to make a profit on natural gas sales…

Why are my natural gas bills so high?

January 8, 2023 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

QUESTION: Why are Compressed Natural Gas Prices SO high? ANSWER: The utility companies claim: elongated cold weather spell brought with the rain CNG reserves low due to national temperature spikes Short commodity purchasing period QUESTION: What can consumers do to decrease their bills? ANSWER: Consumers can: Turn down the thermostat Put on a sweater Fill any leaks that allow cold air to come inside…

PG&E’s Dirty Diablo Canyon Deal will spike your Utility Bill by 3%

December 30, 2022March 6, 2023 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

MEDIA ADVISORY Friday, December 30, 2022 Click here for text of Senate Bill 846 San Diego, Calif. (December 30, 2022) – At the behest of Governor Newsom, the California legislature has voted to bail out Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E’s) failing Diablo Canyon nuclear plant at your expense. The bailout will increase every ratepayer’s bill by 3%. The move will crush the competition…

Comments of Nina Babiarz’ testimony to the California Coastal Commission on the possibility of Diablo Canyon nuke waste storage at SONGS

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022 Public Watchdogs 1 Comment

The Coastal Commission’s strangely-worded “Restrictions” on nuclear waste could have created a legal loophole that would have allowed San Onofre to accept nuclear waste from other nuclear power plants! NINA BABIARZ’ PUBLIC COMMENTS at the 10-13-2022 CA COASTAL COMMISSION MEETING My name is Nina Babiarz, a founding Board Member with Public Watchdogs and a member of Congressman Levin’s San Onofre Task Force for approximately 3 years. …

Coastal Commission amends SONG nuke waste storage terms after hearing from Public Watchdogs’ public advocates

October 16, 2022November 14, 2022 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

In early October of 2022, Public Watchdogs’ Director of Development noticed something peculiar about what should have been a very straight-forwarded licensing deal with Southern California Edison, the majority owners of the failed San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). What Nina noticed, buried deep within all the bureaucratic double-talk in the Commission Agenda, was a clause that would have given Edison permission to bury waste from…

MEDIA ALERT: Does the Coastal Commission intend to store Diablo Canyon’s nuclear waste at San Onofre?

October 11, 2022October 18, 2022 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

Will Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) get a Coastal Commission amendment to send its nuclear waste to Southern California? After the year 2025, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) will run out of storage space for its deadly nuclear waste. This questionable proposed amendment by the California Coastal Commission staff was tacked on signals a direct connection to the last vote of the last legislative session of…

Mexican quake causes four foot waves in California desert

October 4, 2022October 4, 2022 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

The recent September 19th earthquake in Mexico measured 7.6 on the Richter magnitude scale. The earthquake was so powerful that it not only rocked Mexico’s West Coast, it also created four foot high waves in Death Valley. The waves (get video) occurred in a geothermal pool inside a massive limestone cave in Devil’s Hole Nevada, just a few miles from the California border. The cave, which…

These Leaders Deserve Your Vote of Thanks

September 1, 2022September 2, 2022 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

Your utility bills are going to increase because of a reckless vote cast by your elected officials to keep Diablo Canyon open. Last night your representatives under cloak of darkness, in a secret midnight vote, opted to put their political aspirations above the public safety. How? By voting to keep the dangerously decrepit Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant open for business past its prime. Even if…

Letter in opposition to keeping Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant open

August 19, 2022August 24, 2022 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

Today, the LA Times published this letter from Public Watchdogs’ Board Member and Director of Development, Nina Babiarz. Photo: Tracy Adams, Wikimedia While it’s somewhat surprising that Newsom would hang his political aspirations on the coattails of PG&E, which just emerged from a criminal probation during which it pleaded guilty to 85 counts of manslaughter, at least he’s revealing his true colors. It’s also…

Keeping Diablo Canyon Open – The Devil is in the details

August 18, 2022August 23, 2022 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

Governor Newsom is actively pressuring your elected officials to keep the aging Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant open. Newsom has promised Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) a $1.4 billion “forgivable loan” to keep it running, plus, the Senate is expected to vote on to keep Diablo open in the next few days! Call or email these State Senators to avert this disaster! (Scroll down for…

Oil price down, Gas prices up: Why increasing the supply of oil won’t lower gas prices in the short term

June 16, 2022July 6, 2022 Public Watchdogs Leave a comment

Why are gas prices going up when the price of oil is going down? Get the KUSI interview on this story with Public Watchdogs’ Executive Director, Charles Langley There is a schism in the scheme of things. According to the “Laws of Supply and Demand,” the price of a commodity will increase when it is scarce, and decrease when it is abundant. As of this…