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2 weeks ago | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Thomas D. Elias |SoCal Gas |politics. Non-partisan
By Thomas Elias, ENTERPRISE RECORDAcademics have known for many years the potential for conflicts of interest when they conduct studies or write reports on products or companies for which they have consulted. That’s why they almost always disclose conflicts.
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1 month ago | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Megan Munce |politics. Non-partisan
By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLEhttps://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/home-insurance-fair-plan-20279165.phpA consumer group sued California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and his department this week in a bid to stop consumers from paying part of the California FAIR Plan’s losses from the Los Angeles wildfires.
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2 months ago | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Megan Munce |politics. Non-partisan
By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLEhttps://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/home-insurance-state-farm-rate-20215509.phpCalifornia regulators have given State Farm General initial approval for its largest home insurance rate hike in years — but first, they want the insurer to pledge not to drop any more customers en masse.
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2 months ago | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Ethan Varian |politics. Non-partisan
By Ethan Varian, MERCURY NEWSAs part of a new plan to stabilize California’s home insurance crisis, state regulators have updated a map of fire-risk areas where insurers will soon be expected to write more policies. The goal is to push providers to expand coverage in places where they’ve dropped hundreds of thousands of homeowners in recent years amid worsening wildfire losses.
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Mar 5, 2025 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Camille von Kaenel |politics. Non-partisan
By Camille Von Kaenel, POLITICOhttps://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/03/04/ricardo-laras-no-win-on-state-farm-00212607?nname=california-climate&nid=00000189-315c-d8dd-a1ed-797dc9f10000&nrid=0000014f-890a-d780-a9ef-9d7a82c30000WOULDN’T WANNA BE YA: Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is about to have to bite the bullet.
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Feb 19, 2025 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Ryan Fonseca |politics. Non-partisan
By Ryan Fonseca, LOS ANGELES TIMEShttps://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2025-02-19/californias-insurance-commissioner-faces-criticism-over-ties-to-industry-essential-californiaGood morning. Here’s what you need to know to start your day. Ricardo Lara’s controversial plan to reform the insurance market will be put to the test after the costliest wildfires in the state’s history. How a Pasadena gardener worked through the worst January of his life to help open schools.
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Feb 11, 2025 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Andrew Sheeler |politics. Non-partisan
By , SACRAMENTO BEEhttps://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article299929444.htmlShould businesses be allowed to charge you more for the price of goods and services based on a data profile they have on you?
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Feb 5, 2025 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Blanca Begert |SoCal Gas |politics. Non-partisan
By Blanca Begert, POLITICOhttps://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/02/04/why-tesla-needs-a-trump-lifeline-00202519?nname=california-climate&nid=00000189-315c-d8dd-a1ed-797dc9f10000&nrid=9df49bfd-52ce-419e-b9c2-dba48e0990e3OIL COUNT: The U.S. may have had a record high year for oil drilling, but in California new oil and gas well permits hover near record lows.
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Jan 21, 2025 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Megan Munce |Palisades Fire |politics. Non-partisan
By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLEhttps://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/state-farm-insurance-fire-20034384.phpMonths before the Los Angeles wildfires sparked, State Farm’s California arm was already in trouble, it told state regulators. Its policyholder surplus — the cash it has on hand to pay out claims — had dropped from more than $4 billion in 2016 down to just $1.3 billion as of the end of 2023. It reported a net loss of $880 million in 2023.
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Jan 10, 2025 | 
consumerwatchdog.org | Kenneth Schrupp |Palisades Fire |politics. Non-partisan
By Kenneth Schrupp, THE CENTER SQUAREhttps://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_3f92d976-ce0a-11ef-9efc-bb80f6754a0d.html(The Center Square) – California’s fire insurer of last resort has long been on the brink of insolvency. Not only could FAIR customers – in the absence of a government bailout – face major assessments, it’s likely the FAIR’s relatively low property insurance maximums could leave many Palisades property owners with uncovered losses.
