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Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act apply to Equifax's National Consumer Telecom and Utility Exchange?

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.

Sunrise PowerLink faces Supreme Court battle

KPBS Radio, Ed Joyce - UCAN and the Center for Biological Diversity have initiated a joint legal action in the California Supreme Court to stop construction of SDG&E's Sunrise PowerLink. Full Story.

"Make the [SDG&E Fire] Victim Pay"

Columnist Don Bauder is on fire about SDG&E's plans to make fire victims pay higher rates for SDG&E's negligence.

SDG&E seeks "Collaborators" in its quest to shut off your power when you need it the most

SDG&E is seeking "collaborators" to support its decision to shut down your power during times of high fire risk. But the people who lost their homes in the 2007 fire storms are feeling burned by SDG&E's latest attempts to manipulate the media, regulators, and public opinion. Full Story.

Santa Ana brings hot winds and fire hazards ... from SDG&E.

Fire on Mount San Miguel at night, 2007
When Sempra talks, hot air walks
. Especially when it involves shutting of power to the back-country during times of fire risk. Get the full story.

BEWARE! Arsonist squirrels on the loose

cute kittle squirrel According to experts, falling squirrels are a serious fire hazard. SDG&E hasn't announced that it will shut down power during times of "High Squirrel Risk," but the way things are going, it just  might happen.  See our story When Good Squirrels Go Bad.

SHUT-OFF PLAN - Shut off by PUC? Perhaps not.

The California Public Utilities Commissio (CPUC) finally put SDG&E's backcountry shut-off plan to rest by rejecting the proposal. But their decision wasn't as clear-cut as it seems on the surface. In their oral remarks justifying the decision, many of the Commissioners asserted that SDG&E already had the legal authority to shut off power to the backcountry. SDG&E seized upon these comments in its press release issued after the decision. SDG&E CEO Debra Reed is quoted as saying:

"While we are disappointed in today's ruling on the shut-off component of our overall community fire safety program, it's important to point out that the CPUC reaffirmed SDG&E's statutory authority and responsibility to operate our system safely."

So, is the shut-off monster really vanquished? Ask Godzilla. Ask Jason. Ask Paris Hilton. It may be in hiding, but when when the Santa Ana winds blow, this monster may awaken in an entirely different guise. Get the rest of the story.

State of California photo of Sempra / SDG&E Lobbyist Heidi DeJong Barsuglia

Heidi_Barsuglia_thumbnail_picture_  Work history and photo of Sempra/SDG&E lobbyist. Full story.

Sempra lobbyists caught doing anything to influence votes ... including Assemblyman Mike Duvall

The 33 year old lobbyist worked for Sempra and SDG&E. See Video You could say that Sempra and SDG&E lobbyists have a great work ethic - in fact it appears that their "working girl" lobbyists are doing a bang up job of influencing votes on California utility issues.  Get the full story and watch the video.

SDG&E's ABC rate hike: "Arrogant, Bizarre, and Callow." Utility wants YOU to pay for its mistakes

SDG&E has announced that it wants YOU to pay for its mistakes by footing the bill for fire insurance. The request is as simple as ABC - it is Arrogant, Bizarre, and Callow.  

Get help with your energy bill from the Fraud Squad


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!

It's time to go solar

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.

Michael Gets All Wet & Fishy.....But Creates an Aquaponic Miracle

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. 

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.

Undergrounding

From SDG&E to SBC, get the real story on undergrounding in San Diego inside this issue center.

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.



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Utility Consumers' Action Network

(619) 696-6966 or file a complaint about a company online.

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