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"Protecting consumers is this Department's top priority," said Commissioner Jones. "Thanks to a lot of hard work by Department staff, we were able to recover more than $54 million for the people of California. Our consumer complaint services and market conduct exams are important tools that we employ to respond to the needs of consumers and proactively go after any activities that pose a threat to policyholders."
CDI's Consumer Services and Market Conduct Branch has two divisions – one focuses directly on helping consumers and the other focuses on examinations of insurance companies' actions through an examination process.
The Consumer Services Division operates the Consumer Communications Bureau, which handles the
(800) 927-HELP consumer hotline; the Health Claims Bureau; Claims Services Bureau, and the Rating and Underwriting Services Bureau investigate and resolve complaints filed with the Department by consumers and others. The consumer hotline annually receives about 200,000 calls.
Through its complaint handing efforts, the Consumer Services Division recovered over $49 million for consumers in 2011.
Further, the Market Conduct Division recovered approximately $5 million for consumers and 114 exams of insurance companies were adopted by the Commissioner.
The Market Conduct Division consists of the Field Claims Bureau and a Field Rating and Underwriting Bureau.
These bureaus perform examinations of insurance company claims, underwriting, rating and marketing practices to ensure they are in compliance with state laws and regulations.
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WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – The pump prices have jumped in all but one metro area across Northern California, according to the latest report from AAA Insurance, which tracks gas prices as a service to consumers.
According to AAA, half of the Northern California metro areas tracked by the organization had double digit increases over the past month.
The Golden State’s average for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.70, up 11 cents since last month’s AAA report on Dec. 13. For perspective, that’s 35 cents higher than California’s average price on this date last year.
Among all 50 states, California has the third highest state average price for regular, unleaded gasoline. Hawaii is first and Alaska is second.
Northern California gas prices are now averaging $3.67, up nine cents from last month.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, motorists can expect to pay an average price of $3.74, which is a 7-cent increase.
The national average price of $3.37 is up by 10 cents, which is 28 cents more than the national price on this date last year, when it was $3.09.
“Consumers have been seeing a steady increase in gas prices ever since late last year,” said AAA Insurance spokesperson Matt Skryja. “The recent jumps at the pump are largely driven by investors’ buying behavior, which is linked to real, perceived, or potential impacts on supply and demand worldwide. Recent tensions between Iran and the U.S. in the Persian Gulf sparked concerns about possible restrictions on oil tankers traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. Fears over this potential impact to supply helped push the price upwards.”
Positive economic reports about the U.S. and Chinese economies have also helped pressure gasoline prices higher.
That said, late last week concerns about ongoing economic stability issues in the Euro zone helped to counter-balance the rising price of oil.
Global economic weakness, and the associated decrease in demand for oil, exerts downward pressure on the price of crude.
Figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that demand for gasoline in the United States has continued to drop, as oil and gasoline stocks are building.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Ukiah where regular is $3.53.
Of all the metro areas in Northern California where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka has an average price of $3.88, the highest in Northern California. This is also the highest price in the lower 48 states.
The least expensive gasoline in the country is found in St. George, Utah. The average price of gas in that metro area is $2.85. Wailuku, Hawaii, holds the dubious crown for the highest average price in the nation, at $4.36 per gallon.
To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair. The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, planning errands and lightening your load also help conserve gasoline.
AAA offers text alerts via mobile phone for low gas prices in your area. Visit www.aaa.com/gas.
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DETROIT, Mich. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) on Tuesday joined VIA Motors in unveiling the first extended-range electric pickup truck for utilities featuring an innovative technology that, in addition to providing highly efficient mileage, has the potential to provide mobile, on-site power to help manage electrical outages.
The Northern and Central California electric and gas utility partnered with VIA Motors in 2008 to develop the trucks, called eREVs or Extended-Range Electric Vehicles. PG&E already owns two of the trucks.
“This truck has the potential to significantly transform the way we manage electrical outages for our customers,” said PG&E Corp. Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs Greg Pruett.
He was joined at the news conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit by VIA Motors Board of Directors Member Bob Lutz and VIA Motors CEO and Co-founder Kraig Higginson.
“PG&E looks forward to continuing its work with VIA Motors as we build upon the greenest utility fleet in the country,” Pruett added.
The eREV trucks run the first 40 miles solely on electricity before switching to gasoline.
For electric utilities, the trucks potentially can provide on-site power to help shorten small outages, eliminate some planned outages for maintenance, and boost the electric grid when needed.
The first-generation trucks have a 15 kilowatt capacity, equivalent to a generator for a small- or medium-sized house, and that amount could increase in future models.
PG&E is committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Since 1995, PG&E’s alternative-fuel fleet helped prevent more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
The utility has more than 1,200 alternative-fuel vehicles in its fleet, ranging from natural-gas, hybrid and electric passenger cars to large trucks that burn natural gas or have the ability to provide needed power from battery packs instead of idling engines.
PG&E is testing and validating other promising transportation technologies, including liquid and compressed natural gas and diesel-electric hybrids.
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When compared against the 2011 Budget Act, December revenues were $1.4 billion below estimates.
“While we saw positive numbers in November, December’s totals failed to meet even the latest revenue projections,” said Chiang. “Coupled with higher spending tied to unrealized cost savings, these latest revenue figures create growing concern that legislative action may be needed in the near future to ensure that the State can meet its payment obligations.”
To offer a complete view of the state’s finances, the report Chiang issued Tuesday compares actual revenues and disbursements to figures from 2010, estimates from the 2011 Budget Act, and the latest projections found in the Governor’s proposed 2012-13 budget.
Compared to the 2011 Budget Act estimates, disbursements exceeded projections by $2.65 billion. This deficit was eliminated in the 2012-13 governor’s budget estimates when the Department of Finance revised projections in consideration of spending assumptions that now appear unlikely.
When comparing to the governor’s 2012-13 budget, personal income taxes were $69.8 million down (-1.4 percent), and corporate taxes also dropped by $19.5 million (-1.4 percent).
December’s sales tax totals came in above estimates by $17 million (1.1 percent). These receipts do not reflect all holiday spending. The balance of holiday sales tax receipts will be seen in late January and early February.
The state ended last fiscal year with a cash deficit of $8.2 billion. The combined current year cash deficit stands at $21 billion. Those deficits are being covered with $15.6 billion of internal borrowing (temporary loans from special funds) and $5.4 billion of external borrowing.