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Commission says SDG&E caused Rice, Witch and Guejito fires
Power Lines and parklands don't mix: A new report from the CPUC Consumer Protection and Safety Division says SDG&E powerlines are responsible for the devastating wild fires that destroyed much of San Diego's back country. SDG&E has fought publication of the report. More.
Gas prices are dropping.
Oil prices have collapsed, and gas prices are expected to decline. Four reasons why. Analysis.
Props 7 & 10: The sun is free ... renewable power isn't
UCAN isn't fond of the initiative process as a means of creating complex public policy. So consider this general bias in our evaluation of two energy-related initiatives scheduled to appear on the California ballot. The question we are asked is whether people should vote for Proposition 7 or Proposition 10. Our answer is NO. Read the following to learn why.
Comcast serves up more consumer abuse
San Francisco Chronicle: Comcast is limiting bandwidth to 250 GB a month. It's a bad deal for consumers, says UCAN's Executive Director, Michael Shames. More.
UCAN plan offers solutions to San Diego's water crisis
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Can San Diego avoid a water crisis? Absolutely. This document shows how other cities have done it successfully, and how we can, too. Get the report. |
SDG&E Lied? Utility Charged With Violating CPUC's First Commandment
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has never been known to be a bastion of truth. Yet, even this jaded agency got tired of the endless helpings of lies being dished up by SDG&E in the Sunrise Powerlink case. The breaking point appears to have occurred during one of SDG&E's many ex parte (private) meetings with CPUC Commissioners and their advisors in June. Now the CPUC is calling SDG&E on the carpet for what may be but a teapot-sized tempest or could prove to be a turning point in this checkered case.
Union-Tribune's Editor Kittle exposed as participating in Sempra's corporate spin and "deception" says former news colleague
Without question, Don Bauder, a former editor and financial columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune is one of the most respected business reporters in Southern California. Today, The San Diego Reader has published his story "Spinrise," which exposes his former colleague, Robert A. Kittle, as a "pathetically fatuous" servant of San Diego's "overlords." Pretty strong language, indeed! What's more, says Bauder, Kittle's statements about UCAN and the Sunrise PowerLink are a "rank deception." Read all about it.
Time Warner Roadrunner "Turbo" broadband Internet: Are you really getting what you paid for?
Recently I had to "choose" a broadband Internet provider. After having my "choices" narrowed down for me by a serious lack of competition ( I hear U-Verse is on its way some day), I went with my first, last, and only choice, Time Warner. Despite feeling trapped, the Time Warner customer service rep wooed me with promises of a new broadband paradigm, Roadrunner "turbo." For some reason this "15 Mbps down, 2 Mbps" up Internet was cheaper than the default 8 Mbps/ 1 Mbps option of yesteryear, so I pounced on the deal like a caged tiger given extra scraps of meat at dinner.
The moral of this story is to check the bandwidth you're getting from your broadband Internet provider.
Referendum process subverted by wealthy energy moguls
San Diego Union Tribune: Energy Billionaires like T-Boone Pickens are using California's ballot initiatives in an attempt to get the "court of public opinion" to rule in favor of their own investments. Beware: Greed, not "green" is the likely motivator. Michael Shames speaks out. More.
Billionaire oilman urges nation to embrace wind and natural gas alternatives
UNION-TRIBUNE - Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens, who made his fortune in oil, is now promoting wind and natural gas as alternatives to petroleum, but some consumer advocates believe he has a financial stake in his campaign for alternative energy. READ MORE
It's time to go solar
Get a Free Guzzler Buster
Save gas with this free money saving guide
How to Cancel Your Cell Phone Contract
Cell phone providers will let you get out of your contract for around $175 per phone line with no questions asked.
If that just isn't good enough for you, and it shouldn't be, then take a look at this guide to learn about asserting your rights!
File A Consumer Complaint
Need help resolving a dispute with a company? Get individualized help with your dispute from the Fraud Squad by using our Online Complaint Forms. Once you've filled out a complaint, call the Fraud Squad Hotline at (619) 696-6966!
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Shopping for wireless with the World's Greatest Consumer
They don't call me the "World's Greatest Consumer" for nothing. Well, perhaps they do. But that's an entirely different story and only tangentially related to my decision to take a personal plunge into buying a new wireless phone and service. Join me on my virtual safari.
-Michael, WGC
Don’t let Uncle Sam pocket your stimulus check
The IRS won't be sending you your economic stimulus check unless you have a filed a tax return by October 15th -- that goes for persons who don't normally file.
UCAN plan offers solutions to San Diego's water crisis
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Can San Diego avoid a water crisis? Absolutely. This document shows how other cities have done it successfully, and how we can, too. Get the report. |
UCAN Asks: Were you sold a bundled phone service,TV & Internet package where the company couldn't deliver?
UCAN wants to know: Were you sold a bundled package where any of the 3 services couldn't be delivered by AT&T, Verizon or any other carrier because they sold you services in an area where they were unable to deliver? For example, UCAN received a Verizon complaint where the company was unable to provide phone service because the customer was in an exclusively AT&T service area. The customer signed up based on the promise of a printed advertisement. In this case, the customer was told that the TV part of the package had to be installed first. The customer was then not able to cancel the DirecTV service without an early termination penalty even though the phone service part of the bundled plan couldn't be provided.
SDG&E begins installation of new smart meter technology
Union-Tribune - SDG&E begins installing new digital electrical meters in San Diego that are designed to monitor residential and commercial electrical use to create greater efficiency and encourage conservation. READ MORE
Battle of cable, telecom titans may not benefit consumers
Los Angeles Times - Consumer columnist David Lazarus reports on new strategies being developed by cable and telecom companies that may not be as beneficial to consumers as the companies predict. MORE
Physicist, 82, leads the way on energy efficiency
North County Times - Pioneering physicist leads the way in promoting energy-efficient living without making huge investments. MORE
Cell phone users 'crammed' with unauthorized fees
Phone Fraud on the Prowl: LawyersandSettlements.com interviews UCAN Advocate Sue Macomber urges consumers to inspect for their phone bills for cramming - a form of white collar phone billing fraud. READ MORE
Rising gas prices starting to spill into local businesses and tourism
SAN DIEGO BUSINESS JOURNAL -- San Diego's businesses and world-famous tourist industry are starting to feel the effects of rising gas prices that may continue through the summer, however, UCAN gasoline analyst Charles Langley predicts politics will intervene and prices will drop before the presidential election in November. READ MORE
The government is deceiving you about the rate of inflation
UNION-TRIBUNE - Rising prices for energy, food, housing and the other essentials of life are hurting low-and-middle income consumers--especially in San Diego where the cost of living is higher and wages tend to be lower. READ MORE
California's Telco Deregulation Fiasco: Finding Alternative Phone Service in a Competitive Wasteland
Your telephone rates have increased by between 70-276%.....in just the past year. From a few years ago, we are looking at 1000% price increases. Remarkably, many consumers aren't even aware of these price shocks. And when they find out, they feel helpless to do anything about them. They're partly right thanks to irresponsible regulatory oversight. But there are some ways to fight back..............read on.
California Lifeline/Universal Lifeline Telephone Service
California Lifeline, formerly known as Universal Lifeline Telephone Service (ULTS), provides discounted basic residential (landline) telephone service to low-income households.
Sunrise Powerlink
Visit our page dedicated to the Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project. You will find news, data, legal hearings and testimony, open-letters from UCAN's executive director, and just about everything else you might want to know regarding this important proposal. Or, listen to Michael Shames explain UCAN's opposition to Sunrise in this UCAN.org podcast.
Ethiopian AT&T Wireless Roaming Overcharges and Cramming
AT&T's practice of enabling international roaming without customer notification violates the CA Public Utilities Code, which is intended to protect consumers from "cramming" of unauthorized charges. AT&T customers are also being charged for calls that were never placed. UCAN asserts that these customers never sought nor authorized international roaming as a service provided in connection with their cellular phone service.
Sprint Nextel illegally billing taxes, fees, and text message charges on data broadband services plans
UCAN has filed a federal class action complaint against Sprint Nextel (aka Sprint Solutions) for illegally billing customers taxes, fees, and text message charges on data services plans. You can read the complaint here.
SDG&E Rate Increase
December 8th, 2006 was not a good day for San Diego. On that day, San Diego Gas & Electric asked state regulators for permission to raise base rates for electricity and natural gas customers by some $250 million annually for the years 2008 through 2013. You don't need a calculator to realize that adds up to a chilly $1.5 BILLION over those six years. Listen to Michael Shames explain UCAN's position on SDG&E's rate request.
Cingular Customer Service Case 2002-2007
UCAN established that Cingular Wireless engaged in illegal marketing and customer service practices from 2000-2002 and filed a suit in July 2002. The case dragged on for years, but in was worth the wait. In 2006, a CA Court of Appeals judge ruled against Cingular and upheld a CPUC decision to hit Cingular with a large fine for its unconscionable actions. Get all the details inside our issue center.
MCI Long Distance Charges
UCAN's complaint, filed with the California Public Utilities Commission, details how MCI added surcharges to the bills of local phone customers in violation of California law. MCI's new long-distance "Basic Monthly Fee" is being imposed on those customers who use MCI's local phone service...but don't use MCI long-distance.
Advanced Metering Initiative
In a filing with the Public Utilities Commission, SDG&E has asked for approval to deploy "real-time" advanced meters to all of SDG&E's small business and residential customers. Find out why the SDG&E AMI proposal needed to be substantially revised.
Ringtone and text message rip-offs
Of all the new features and capabilities of today's cell phones, UCAN receives the most complaints about ringtones and text messages. Our issue center contains all sorts of valuable information from consumer guides and updates to lawsuits and settlements against major cell phone providers. Come inside and see for yourself!
Sewer Refund Settlement 2006
After over two years of litigation, the City and UCAN's Executive Director Michael Shames have agreed to a settlement that would return about $40 million to overcharged residential customers and, perhaps more importantly, allow for the creation of independent oversight of City water and sewer operations. Check out this Issue Center for everything you need to know about the refund!
Utility Consumers' Action Network
(619) 696-6966 or file a complaint about a company online.
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