Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Thirteen years after the California crisis that caused rolling blackouts in the peak of summer, a judge is recommending fining what some call the "dirty dozen" of wholesale energy companies. The companies, including a subsidiary of Shell Oil, are being sued for price manipulation and intentionally shutting down power plants, causing the crisis. Last week an administrative law judge for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recommended that the energy wholesalers pay $1.6 billion in energy refunds to California ratepayers. Sally Schilling reports.