California's claims on energy crisis 'only invective,' feds say

KCAl9 TV News ^ | Monday April 19, 2004 | ERICA WERNER (AP writer)

[Robert357]

WASHINGTON (AP) Federal energy regulators on Monday strongly disputed California's claims that it's being improperly denied billions in refunds from the state's 2000-2001 power crisis.

California Attorney General Bill Lockyer's arguments amount to ``only invective,'' the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in filings with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

FERC spokesman Bryan Lee went further, issuing a statement labeling recent Lockyer court filings an ``attack designed to generate headlines'' and calling on the attorney general to ``stop gaming the press.''

The agency's arguments came in response to motions Lockyer submitted last month accusing FERC of ``ignoring and circumventing'' court orders by making piecemeal settlements with energy companies for far too little money, in closed-door proceedings without input from California officials. FERC is charged with determining refunds of overcharges by energy sellers during the state's power crisis.

FERC said it was proceeding properly, issuing orders and trying to assist reforms to California's flawed market design. The agency accused California of resisting the market fixes it was proposing and also claimed that California was the one violating court orders by even making the arguments Lockyer advanced last month, contending the court had barred further such motions.

----snip-----

Behind the escalating war of words between California and FERC lie huge amounts of money the state says ratepayers are due. California contends it is owed some $9 billion in refunds from overcharges by electricity sellers during the energy crisis. FERC has put the number at about $3 billion and has collected less than $100 million to date.

[Robert357]

I guess FERC is getting tired of these same sour grapes with nothing new being added by the California democrats. One would think that after the FERC Administrative Law Judge said that the California numbers of $9 plus billion were bogus and the star California witness admitted on the stand in the FERC hearings that the numbers claimed by the state were false and much much less; that the politicians would have stopped the lies.

Sorry, I forgot they are democrats and it is an election year.

[Robert357]

Thought that you might enjoy the following.

[snopercod]

Ahnold should get rid of Lockyer.

[farmfriend]

Ahnold should get rid of Lockyer.

I'll second that motion. All those in favor...

[tubebender]

I'll BUMP that...

[Carry_Okie]

Ahnold should get rid of Lockyer.

He can't. California AG is an elective office.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the NEWS, about time!!!

Pinging those I can remember that

[jocko12]

This should be fun with the 9th circus in it.

[NormsRevenge]

Bill Simon for AG :-)

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[snopercod]

Then Ahnold should tell him to shut up.