California ordered to refund $270 million to Enron

[Robbien]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) --- As California struggled through the 2000-01 energy crisis, Enron traders gloated about gouging the state. Now state Attorney General Bill Lockyer says federal regulators are heaping insult upon injury by demanding California pay Enron and other energy companies almost $270 million in refunds. In a motion filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Lockyer said the refunds would reward "the sellers a second time for their market manipulation activities and predatory pricing."

. . .

But FERC has ordered refunds and is calculating how much power companies owe in overcharges from the energy crisis. At issue are megawatts bought and sold through the Independent System Operator, the manager of the state's power grid.

. . .

In his filing on Monday, Lockyer said the state's power buys helped the ISO secure enough energy to keep the lights on. State buyers bought power at the high market price, then resold it at the state's cost "in order to protect California's electricity grid from blackouts."

Most of the state's electricity purchases were used by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. But some of the power sold into the ISO market was bought by other energy companies, such as Enron. Those are the sales subject to the refund order.

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2004/06/16/business/local/f0230c90f59d911086256eb5004fbcd2.txt

[vickie]

1. As a Californian, this is the most despicable insult I can imagine.

This may cause a riot here...... Can't wait to see what knuckle dragging Ahhhnnald has to say...

Vickie

[htuttle]

2. You're. Fucking. Kidding.

Arnold's really doing a bang up job out there, eh?

[Tight_rope]

16. I never thought that Californian's were so stupid until....

They elected Arnold as a governor. I swear I thought I was loosing my mind. How could anyone vote and elect someone who made his millions if not billions by making in violent movies that we allow children to watch.

And to add insult to injury, he's a stupid ass incompetent fool just like Bush.

But I guess it's just like the lady at the nail shop said when she voted Bush. "I think he's good looking, that's why I voted for him, but there's something about his lips I don't like". Hummmm...That was a years ago. I wonder if she now wonders that the reason she didn't like his lips, was because nothing but lies come out when he parts them.

I'm glad to say, that day at the nail shop I looked at that lady and told her, "the next time you vote for someone, check out their background and not their looks". It may have been rude, but all I kept thinking of was some statistics that said most women tend to vote for candidates bases on the way they look. So you can say I just couldn't help myself.:shrug:

[Zan_of_Texas]

20. Maybe Californians did NOT vote for Arnold.

Sure, some did. But, there were voting irregularities, especially in one of the most Democratic enclaves in the state, the Berkeley Oakland area. Proof of who the voters really meant to vote for? Hard to come by when some of the problems came from the no-meaningful-recount electronic voting machines.

Just be aware that sometimes we may be blaming the "stupid voters" when it may have actually been the "stupid voting machines".

[loudsue]

51. You nailed it, Zan.....

The black boxes that swept Ahhnold into the governors mansion is the BIGGEST problem in all of this. FERC is staffed by people appointed by the OTHER assholes that were swept into office by black boxes.

It's an insidious problem....the black boxes have this ripple effect, from commission "appointments" to judgeships "appointed" by those who have stolen their offices compliments of illegitimate elections.

If people don't WAKE THE F* UP and realize that EVERYTHING IN THEIR LIVES is ultimately affected by this blight on our Democracy, we're all toast.

The rest of the nation needs to follow California on their refusal to use black boxes. We need to tighten down our election process so that it is TOTALLY INCORRUPTIBLE!!

:kick::kick::kick:

[hadrons]

40. "....but there's something about his lips I don't like." ....

you mean how they lie when they move???

[Geo55]

64. So....ahhh

Kerry's got a chance with this airhead.....better lookin' than the chimp

[saigon68]

72. FERC is a CRIMINAL OPERATION

It is a total sham-- a so called regulator that is a PROSTITUTE to the interests it supposedly "REGULATES"

[disgruntled_goat]

3. what the fuck

it's riot time.

[donsu]

4. this is backwards

Enron, etc. should be refunding them

[bluestateguy]

5. This is a joke right? Is this from the Onion?

What if Locklear or Schwarzenegger told the federal regulators to jump in a lake. Locklear wants to be governor, and Schwarzenegger wants to be re-elected. If one of these two men would tell the feds to go to hell they would be a shoo in for 2006.

[Mandate My Ass]

6. Now I've heard everything

:grr:

[nolabels]

41. Not really, but sometimes I wished I had

The Euphemism Generator
Hit "Reload" for ENDLESS FUN.

"They found him naked in the alley behind the bar,
spinning the pocket sheriff."

http://walkingdead.net/perl/euphemism

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

60. The pocket sheriff is all the rage with the well-to-do.

Me? I've got a pocket public defender.

[UpInArms]

7. Ken Lay recommended Pat Wood

to FERC

'nuff said

see Molly at:

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08212003/commenta/commenta.asp

Now, here's an interesting joker in the deck. Who do you suppose wanted FERC to expand its jurisdiction to cover all aspects of electricity transmission?

Why, Ken Lay of Enron.

For the first two years of this administration, what Ken Lay wanted, Ken Lay got. In his famous memo to Cheney to deter FERC from imposing caps on wholesale power prices, so the California rip-off could continue, Lay also urged that FERC "develop reliability standards and enforce those standards" for the grid.

So guess what? Cheney's plan recommends that FERC "improve the reliability of the interstate transmission system" and "develop legislation providing for enforcement of a self- regulatory organization subject to FERC oversight."

In 2001, Ken Lay had a come-to-Jesus session with Curtis Hebert, then chairman of FERC, saying that if he didn't get on board with Enron's program, he was gone.

So Hebert was replaced by Pat Wood, who came recommended by Ken Lay. So did another FERC appointee, Nora Mead Brownell.

http://www.ferc.gov/about/com-mem/wood.asp

Patrick Henry Wood, III
Chairman

Patrick Henry Wood, III is Chairman of the Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission, the independent regulator of the nation’s wholesale electric power industry, natural gas, oil and refined products pipelines and its hydroelectric facilities.

Wood is the longest-serving appointee of George W. Bush, having been named by him to the Public Utility Commission of Texas in February 1995 to regulate the state's telecommunications and power industries. Wood served as Chairman of that Commission until joining the FERC in June 2001.

A native of Port Arthur, Texas, Wood received a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He has worked as an engineer with Arco Indonesia and as an attorney with the Baker & Botts law firm in Washington, DC. Wood also served as legal advisor to Federal Energy Regulatory Commissioner Jerry Langdon and as legal counsel to Texas Railroad Commissioner Barry Williamson.

Wood believes that competition can do better than regulation in delivering customer benefits and service innovations. Throughout his career, he has worked to advance a pro- customer, market-oriented vision of utility regulation.

Wood is married to the former Kathleen Ryder. They have three sons, Patrick, John Thomas, and Charles.

[Beetwasher]

8. Cant. Stop. Head. From. Spinning.

Wha wha wha WHAT?!!!?

[Zan_of_Texas]

9. Bear in mind

Bear in mind that the head of FERC, Pat Wood III, got appointed to the Texas Public Utility Commission as a result of support by Ken Lay. After the market manipulation (2000-early 2001), he got appointed by Bush to be head of FERC as a result of <...drum roll...> support by Ken Lay.

FERC is part of the problem, not part of the solution.

The original head of FERC was appointed by Bush right after his inauguration, January 2001. That was a Republican, Clinton appointee elevated to head up FERC.

-Jan. 22, 2001 - Bush elevates Curt Hebert to Chairman of FERC. Hebert, a Republican, had been appointed by Clinton in 1997.

But, Hebert may have gotten too energetic in fighting manipulation.

-May 1, 2001 -"If we find it, they're going to dread the day they ever thought about doing it," says FERC Chairman Curt Hebert of alleged energy price gouging. http://www.cbsnews.com/now/story/0,1597,303149-412,00.shtml "Power Price Gouging Secrets"

In August 2001, Hebert (after serving as Chair of FERC for only seven months), announced he would be resigning. A few weeks later, Bush announced that Pat Wood III (choice of Ken Lay and Enron) would become the new chair of FERC.

~~~~`
Records reveal power profiteering
Associated Press
June 14, 2004, 11:39PM

It was reported by AP on Monday that one of Washington State's senators demanded response from FERC:

<tt>Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., demanded a new investigation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She said the agency's failure to uncover Enron's schemes wound up hurting thousands of customers and that the commission tried to keep the utility district from getting access to Enron's tapes.

"When are you going to give justice to the individuals who have been hurt by this Enron market manipulation?" Cantwell asked. "If the federal oversight regulators aren't going to do their job, then they should get out of the way and quit obstructing justice."

[Tight_rope]

18. And let's not forget that Tom DeLay had his part too! n/t

[David__77]

10. Schwarz better demand Bush do something.

or else there are serious consequences. To be a bit Macchiavellian, we should realize that this could really hurt the GOP in Califonia!

[Tight_rope]

26. Stop dreaming. Bush and Arnold are cut from the same cloth! n/t

[mom cat]

48. Arnie was elected to accelerate the corruption, not to stop it.

[Kikosexy2]

11. We Californians...

Need to get MAD AS HELL AND NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!! AAAARRRGGGGGHHHHH! DAMMIT! START CALLING/EMAILING ARNIE'S OFFICE AND YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN--CALL ALL OFFICIALS--TIME TO KICK SOME ASS--SH*T THIS IS F*#KIN' LUDICROUS!!! THREATEN THE FERC TO BACK OFF!! DO IT NOW!!!

[Robbien]

13. good idea, here are some contact numbers

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

To send an Electronic Mail please visit:
http://www.govmail.ca.gov

[Tight_rope]

21. It won't work...Arnold doesn't really work for the people of Cal.

You all may have elected him, but he's not going to do shit for you.

[SemperEadem]

29. no kidding..

the people of CA mean nothing unless he can't get what he wants through the legislature, then he threatens them with going to the people to settle the issue...

we're being pimped.

Once this issue comes to light in LA it will be interesting to see how it goes down.

How that's done is anyone's guess because you can't count on the local media to pull their heads out of some celebrity's ass long enough to look at Sacramento, unless it's about Arnold's latest movie.

In fact, it's pretty shameful that none of the local media here in LA have a bureau in Sacramento to report on issues which directly affect far more Californians than what J-ho wore to her colonic appointment. They truly believe that people won't watch if they report on boring stuff out of the state capitol. That's why this Enron story won't develop legs unless the networks are alerted to it. Believe me, it's running on the wires and the producers do have the information before them---they're just not going to cover it because it's not "sexy".

[DemoTex]

12. California A/G Lockyer is a Democrat. WTF?

http://www.naag.org/ag/ag_bios.php?id=7

[KAZ]

24. FERC is doing this, not Lockyer.

He filed the motion against it.

"In a motion filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Lockyer said the refunds would reward "the sellers a second time for their market manipulation activities and predatory pricing."

[Emboldened Chimp]

50. Of course, FERC is loaded with buddies of Ken Lay

so this isn't all that surprising. Brash and appalling, yes, but not surprising.

[DemoTex]

61. Thanks Kaz. I (of all people) should have known.

Lay owned FERC when I worked for him at Transco (Transcontinental Gas Pipeline) during the early Ray-gun years. He was ruthless. I knew him very well. Too well. I flew Learjet 55s and a Lockheed Jetstar II in his flight department. And believe me, Lay knew young Bu$h in the early 80s. I had George W. Bu$h on the JetStar jumpseat on a flight out of DCA to IAH in 1983. Guest of Ken Lay.

That is nothing new to DU. I've told the story many times here, since May 2001.

[Sirveri]

67. I wish you knew what would have happened later.

Maybe you would have done all of us a favor and martyred yourself for the sake of the nation.

[Ganja Ninja]

14. Get ripped off by Enron/BFEE and then vote for a Republican.

I wonder if people will ever wake up? In a way it's almost hard to feel sorry for them. At least it's hard to feel sorry for anyone that voted for Ahhnold.

[Tight_rope]

22. Thassssss right!

[matcom]

15. tell me this thread title is FUCKING BACKWARDS!

right?

RIGHT???

:grr:

[Canuckistanian]

17. Lemme see if got this straight....

-Enron takes over electricity distribution for California


-California bankrolls their startup

-Enron quickly begin to manipulate the system to artificially increase prices

-Enron collapses because of massive violations of ethics and accountability

and therefore,

-California is held liable for extra costs

Is this right?

[Tight_rope]

25. You got it right....Californian's start emptying your pockets!

No it's not a stick-up....You just got fucked by your government again.:wow:

[DemonFighterLives]

62. A Democrat will never fathom this

Pure Republican logic which of course makes no sense at all.

[silverweb]

19. One more outrage.

I'm having a real hard time wrapping my brain around this:

"Because the state bought a lot of power, it will be entitled to refunds nearly equal to what it has to pay in refunds, FERC said."

Who the hell is doing the calculations on this? How about Enron et al refund California the 9 fucking billion dollars they stole from us??

Refund to Enron, my ass. Lockyer better fight this tooth and nail.

:grr:

[Kikosexy2]

23. Get the ...

bitching campaign going!! CALL/EMAIL ARNIE'S OFFICE NOW!!!!! AND DO THE SAME WITH YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS ---LET'S TURN UP THE HEAT ON THIS MOTHA-F*#KA'---TALK ABOUT BEING DAMN PISSED!!!

[fertilizeonarbusto]

27. outrageous

If I were a Californian, I'd be heating the tar and bagging the feathers. :mad:

[Tight_rope]

31. ROTFLMBAO!!!!!!!!!!!! You made me choke. Are you trying to kill me!

[nolabels]

43. Arnold Schwarzenegger ""I play the Terminator,"

http://www.cursor.org/stories/secondcoming.html#1

The Taliban's
Second Coming

by Marc W. Herold
Departments of Economics and Women's Studies
Whittemore School of Business & Economics
University of New Hampshire

POSTED FEBRUARY 29, 2004 --

On May 1, 2003, in Kabul flanked by his obedient client, Hamid Karzai, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced to the world that the United States had moved from a period of major combat activity to a period of stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan. The 'news' was gushingly reported by America's mainstream news media, e.g., Matt Kelley of the Associated Press and a favorite of the U.S. colonels at the Bagram Air Base.1

Fact: between June 1, 2003 - February 1, 2004, about 1,000 Afghans died in the continuing civil and guerrilla war, and in December 2003, U.S. forces carried out their largest deployment since December 2001 in Tora Bora.2

On July 4, 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger, paid a lightning visit to U.S. troops at Camp Victory off Highway Eight on the Baghdad airport road.3 While there, he announced,

"I play the Terminator, but you guys are the real terminators."4

Fact: those 'terminated' by the 'guys' include about 4,000 civilians in Afghanistan and as many as 10,000 civilians in Iraq.
(snip)

[Tight_rope]

44. Thanks for the information.

Hit helps me build my case as to how stupid Arnold really is. Thanks again.:pals:

[KansDem]

28. Let me ask this question...

Could this move be necessary to make way for a lawsuit against Enron by California? In other words, could the Enron refund be considered a separate issue that needs to be resolved before California can go ahead with its lawsuit?

Just curious... :shrug:

[reprobate]

45. The suit was settled by making Ah-nld the gropenator.

The entire purpose of the cheating and lying that put the actor in power in CA was to have a republican as governor. I don't have the links, but do a search and you'll find them.

There was a meeting between Lay, Schwartzenegger, and several other wheels in republican politics. Enron had been found guilty of manipulation and had to pay a huge fine and return the money. The agreement at the meeting was that they would pay 0.5%, but they had to have a governor on their side who would approve the tiny payback. This would not happen with Gray in office, so they started a recall petition and the actor agreed to run opposing Gray. You know the rest. Thru conniving and cheating, they got him in. He has already said publicly that he will approve the deal.

Once more californians get screwed. Wonder who has the vaseline concession in LA?

[peacetalksforall]

30. Isn't there something like Reverse Double Jeopardy to help those

residents and businesses. I can't believe it - CA is getting robbed twice by the same thieves and some fresh faced facilitators?

[ronnykmarshall]

32. Take a stand Arnold!

[Just Me]

33. Awwww,...this is just sick.

How long are people going to take being subjected to this form of abuse? The rich empting the pockets of the kingdom's people.

Sick.

[Tight_rope]

34. Americans need to plan a coup. n/t

[MallRat]

35. I. AM. SPEECHLESS.

The FERC said this with a straight face?

Un. Fucking. Believable.

:wow:

[burrowowl]

36. This is getting beyound protesting

people need to take to the streets and wake up to the fact that Government is now for, by and of the Corporation$ and not the People. Go visit CorpWatch! Go to Znet!

[Tight_rope]

37. I said it first. American's need to plan a coup! n/t

[0007]

38. Wait a second...hold on....something is wrong

I can't believe this fucking shit. This is America things don't or aren't suppose to happen like this!

[cease_fire]

39. This kinda stuff used to be funny.

Um, I'm wondering....

How in the HELL cound the federal govenrment tell the state to pay ANYTHING to Enron?

I mean ANYTHING!

And who in the samhell is in charge of this audit?



Will wonders ever cease?

[cease_fire]

42. This - Does - Not - Compute

I've been in shock now for almost an hour.

[crossroads]

46. This... is hard... to believe...

What an insult!!! Appalling...
:eyes:

[proud patriot]

47. I refuse to pay

Oh my this Pisses me off ...

[AndyTiedye]

49. RECALL ARNOLD!

As we saw already, it isn't that hard to do a recall here.

[DaveSZ]

55. Someone post the link about Ahnuld

Wasn't it from commondreams/?

[kymar57]

52. OMG!!!

I scanned over this headline earlier and thought that it was some sort of dyslectic typo!!! Unbelievable!

[Catherine Vincent]

53. California got punk'd!

But for real!!

[mom-mad-about-bush]

54. ONLY IN AMERICA..............

What a joke.........but nothing can surprise me anymore!

[DaveSZ]

56. Here we go:

Ahnuld was in on the entire scam!


http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/utilities/pr/pr003708.php3

NEWS RELEASE
Oct 03, 2003

Enron E-mails Confirm Schwarzenegger-Ken Lay Meeting
Enron E-Mails Show Arnold Met With Ken Lay During Energy Crisis

[Tight_rope]

59. I knew it! I knew it!....Arnold is a crook just like the rest of them!

[Trajan]

57. Only in GEORGE BUSH's america ...

Only in a GOP america ...

Citizens are marks in a carney to them ...

[DaveSZ]

58. More!

I used to like Arnold, but he can go to hell now.


http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=283&row=1



Arnold Unplugged - It's hasta la vista to $9 billion if the Governator is selected
Friday, October 3, 2003
E-Mail Article
Printer Friendly Version


It's not what Arnold Schwarzenegger did to the girls a decade back that should raise an eyebrow. According to a series of memoranda our office obtained today, it's his dalliance with the boys in a hotel room just two years ago that's the real scandal.



The wannabe governor has yet to deny that on May 17, 2001, at the Peninsula Hotel in Los Angeles, he had consensual political intercourse with Enron chieftain Kenneth Lay. Also frolicking with Arnold and Ken was convicted stock swindler Mike Milken.



Now, thirty-four pages of internal Enron memoranda have just come through this reporter's fax machine tell all about the tryst between Maria's husband and the corporate con men. It turns out that Schwarzenegger knowingly joined the hush-hush encounter as part of a campaign to sabotage a Davis-Bustamante plan to make Enron and other power pirates then ravaging California pay back the $9 billion in illicit profits they carried off.



Here's the story Arnold doesn't want you to hear. The biggest single threat to Ken Lay and the electricity lords is a private lawsuit filed last year under California's unique Civil Code provision 17200, the "Unfair Business Practices Act." This litigation, heading to trial now in Los Angeles, would make the power companies return the $9 billion they filched from California electricity and gas customers.

-more

[Kool Kitty]

63. How the fuck is this possible?

This is about the tenth time today I've said that. Everything I have read or heard today has made my head explode. I have to go towel the brains off the refrig now. :mad: :mad: :mad: :argh: :wtf: :mad:

[aquart]

65. I want to see George's California poll numbers in 2 days.

I want Republican congressmen so terrified that THEY call for the head of the head of FERC.

So whaddya think, folks, is California gonna get mad enough to cause an earthquake in the FERC?

[jayfish]

66. Has Anyone Else Noticed That This Story Is Being Covered By...

NO ONE? WTF is up with that? I have been following this thread since it's origination and still haven't seen a damn thing about it... anywhere. Well at least I know that Britteny and Courtney have canceled their tours. Wadda relief.

Jay

[gatlingforme]

68. I would rather listen to Brittany than Bush and his minions any day

[amjsjc]

69. Okay, that's it, it's time to seceede from the Union...

Anymore I'm not sure wether or not I'm serious.

[jeff5]

70. Seems Like Paying to get Screwed is Illegal Most Places...(nt)

[anarchy1999]

71. I think Palast wrote an article about this issue and warned Californians.

Arnie still won, now look what you have..........?

You all were warned this was in the offing, if Arnie won, you got it.

[dusty64]

73. This is beyond fiction.

Did this story get any coverage anywhere, particularly the West Coast? I saw NOTHING about it except on this forum, which is typical for most stories which are damning to our regime.

[struggle4progress]

74. kick

:kick:

[DaveSZ]

75. Dan Rather

CBS news covered this.

Actually they broke the story I believe.