Business News

Details

Written by: Editor

Published: 25 May 2012

SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is alerting customers to be aware of a scam that has impacted other utility customers across the country.

The scam, which has been reportedly taking place in person, through social media, through posted fliers and through text messages, claims that President Barack Obama is providing a credit or directly paying utility bills.

In some cases, customers have been asked for social security numbers to apply payments to customers’ utility bills, presenting an identity-theft risk.
 
PG&E wants to remind customers that PG&E representatives would not ask for personal or banking information over the phone.
 
PG&E offers the following tips to help protect customers from scams:

• Customers should always ask to see identification before allowing anyone claiming to be a PG&E representative inside their home. PG&E employees always carry their identification and are always willing to show it to you.
• If a person claiming to be a PG&E employee has identification and you still feel uncomfortable, call PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-PGE-5000 to verify an appointment and/or PG&E’s presence in the community.  If you feel threatened in any way, you should notify local law enforcement immediately.
• Customers who have an appointment with PG&E will receive an automated call back within 48 hours prior to a scheduled visit, or they will receive a personal call from a PG&E gas service representative prior to a scheduled visit.
• PG&E’s Credit Department will not ask for personal information or a credit card number over the phone.  Anyone who has received such a phone call and provided credit card or checking account information should report it immediately to the credit card company or bank and law enforcement.
• Customers with concerns about the legitimacy of a call about a past due bill, a service request or a request for personal information are encouraged to call PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.
• PG&E takes security seriously and will actively work with law enforcement to help stop any scam impacting customers. Anyone who has received a call or visit similar to the one described above can report it immediately by calling PG&E at 1-800-PGE-5000.

Customers seeking financial assistance can visit www.pge.com/financialassistance to sign up for pay plans and participate in programs that help them pay their bills.

Details

Written by: Editor

Published: 25 May 2012

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The third annual Shred Fest 2012 event that was held on Thursday, May 3, was a huge success that provided an opportunity for community members to securely destroy their documents free of charge.

This annual community service event sponsored in partnership with Strong Financial Network and Umpqua Bank produced a total of 299 boxes and/or sacks that were shredded on site by the Shred-It truck.

It is estimated that in excess of 70 trees were saved during this event.

For those that were unable to participate on May 3, Umpqua Bank at the Lakeport and Kelseyville locations will have shred bins available through the month of May, until they are filled.

Stay tuned for next year’s event that will be held in April 2013.

Details

Written by: Editor

Published: 23 May 2012

SACRAMENTO – The AB 32 Implementation Group, a coalition of business and taxpayer organizations, on Wednesday expressed strong concerns about the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) plan to initiate an auction of emissions permits as part of the AB 32 cap-and-trade regulation (AB 32 is California’s Global Warming Solutions Act).  

They observe CARB is exceeding its authority and the auction will add a tremendous strain to the state’s already fragile economy.

“Imposing billions of dollars of new costs on manufacturers, power and fuel producers, agriculture, and other energy users when unemployment is in double digits and taxes may go up to balance the state budget is the height of folly,” said Dorothy Rothrock, vice president of government relations for the California Manufacturers and Technology Association and AB 32 Implementation Group member. “In the end, California consumers and the state’s economy will be the ultimate victims of this ill-conceived and poorly researched scheme.”

“As currently planned, CARB’s auction will pit California employers against Wall Street traders for a diminishing pool of allowances that they must have if they are to stay in business here. That’s a recipe for continued business flight, job loss and economic decline,” Rothrock continued.     

The AB 32 Implementation Group contends that AB 32’s carbon emissions goals can be met without a Wall Street-style auction and protect California employers, jobs and the state’s economy by issuing emissions allowances up to an efficiency benchmark.  

Allowing them to trade permits under a declining statewide cap would reward the most efficient companies and encourage cost-effective emission reductions.

“Despite CARB’s attempt to frame the cap-and-trade auction as a source of free money, it’s a textbook tax on business and consumers – pure and simple. But AB 32 doesn't give CARB taxing authority and lawmakers never intended AB 32 as a revenue generator. And since we are the only state imposing this new tax, our manufacturers will be at a competitive disadvantage. On top of other high costs in California, this will be one more reason to shift jobs and production to other locations,” Rothrock added.

Recent AB 32 Implementation Group polling confirms that two-thirds of California voters oppose CARB's carbon credit trading plan, which is scheduled to kick off later this year with an auction in November.

“There is still time to fix cap-and-trade by removing the most damaging elements of the regulation, including the auction of permits,” Rothrock concluded.  “We should immediately send signals to investors and employers that CARB will not move forward with a job-killing auction.  For the sake of the economy, consumers and the environment, CARB should make AB 32 implementation as low-cost as possible.”