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Telecom and utility companies use the National Consumers Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE), a members-only, unique Equifax database to review consumer credit history. The question remains whether the Fair Credit Reporting Act applies to the NCTUE and what information consumers should be able to obtain about themselves.
Miracles don't happen often enough in our world. But when Michael starts growing his own fish and food in his garage, then you know that there's some divine intervention because Michael doesn't fish and he's got a brown thumb that makes all leafy things tremble. So how did Advocate Michael become Farmer Michael? One word: AQUAPONICS.
The San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology, or SD-CAB, could be a serious threat to the oil industry. Algae is an alternative source for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and a huge income opportunity for San Diego citizens. How? By harnessing the power of algae, we will soon be producing gasoline for as little as $2 a gallon. Full Story
The CPUC determined that regulatory violations involving SDGE's power lines caused the most destructive of last year's devastating San Diego County fires. The Witch Creek fire combined with the Guejito fire and killed two people, burned almost 200,000 acres and destroyed 1,141 homes. The Rice Canyon fire burned almost 9,500 acres and destroyed more than 200 houses.
Rather than address the real problems that caused the 2007 wildfires, SDG&E has asked the CPUC to approve, through an informal process, blanket authority to cut off power to backcountry ratepayers when SDG&E determines dangerous dry and windy conditions exist.
Affected schools, water districts and other ratepayers sternly objected at the CPUC's October 14 hearing inviting public comment on the 2007 San Diego fires.
Michael Shames, UCAN's Executive Director, opposes immediate implementation of SDGE's controversial plan because the "proposal raises some very complex and important policy issues" better suited to formal review by the CPUC.
Read more, including UCAN's protest letter to the CPUC
As part of the bailout, Congress extended solar tax credits, set to expire this year, through 2016.
It was beyond outrageous when Southern California Edison's managment and employees provided rigged customer satisfaction survey data to the PUC in a scheme designed to swindle millions of dollars in Performance Based Ratemaking (PBR) customer satisfaction rewards from 1997-2003.
Edison admitted the scam after being turned in to the PUC by a whistleblower.
On September 18, 2008, the PUC penalized Edison $146 million for its outrageous conduct.
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.
Today, the Union Tribune posted an anonymous opinion piece, (note that it on the Web site it is sponsored by Verizon Wireless) that has accused UCAN of being a "Lucrative rip-off" that makes SDG&E bills higher. There is a good reason that the author of this piece of work has chosen to hide in cowering anonymity: the article is blatently disingenuous. Read all about it.
GUEST COMMENTARY BY JEANNE GAHAGAN - A Mission Hills resident compares the reckless removal of magnificent trees from her neighborhood to pornography. Ms. Gahagan offers a freudian analysis of SDG&E's "tree-envy" complex which is rooted in a desire to maintain power and control at
any cost. More.
Today the Bureau of Land Management announced the lifting of its moratorium on solar energy applications. More.
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UCAN's affiliate New Media Rights is hosting a discussion forum on the future of media and journalism in San Diego. Join in on the discussion now!
Have questions about your gas or electric bill? Wonder how all those charges are calculated? Then see our guide to Understanding Your Electricity Bill.
Save money on your energy bill AND reduce your carbon footprint with the Energy Conservation Guide!
Get personal assistance with your consumer complaint about a company by using our Online Complaint Forms. Or, call the Fraud Squad Hotline at (619) 696-6966!
What are you packin? Is it anything like UCAN's new and improved Consumer Complaint Directory? If not, you should really pick up a copy. This thing is chock-full of hard-hitting consumer punch.
