SparkE said:
One of the problems *I* have with NRG is how they were funded at start ... in California. NRG's parent company (or NRG itself) was implicated in the 1999-2001 energy-price-fixing scandal (and blackouts) in California. They were handed a WHOPPING large fine (can't remember if it was 10s or 100s of millions). Then some genius at NRG made the proposal that instead of paying the cash, they should just spend the money on installing charging stations for EVs. In other words, they money that they should have given up would be used to give them the chance to create a pretty dominant position in EV charging in the state. And the stupid oversight committee agreed to it - despite complaints from watchdog groups. The consumer groups said "sure - fund EV chargers - but have THEM pay for it and open it up to independent bids - don't just let them build their private network!" It was such an obvious backroom, "old boys network" deal it was disgusting.
Can you provide a link to a reliable source verifying this story?
I am willing to bet dollars to donuts your version (starting with your third sentence) is a complete fiction that does not even rise to the level of an urban legend, and is potentially trade disparagement of NRG as well!
I will save you the time:
https://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17463
The true summary of the history is that during the "1999-2001 energy-price-fixing scandal (and blackouts)" as you call it, then Governor Gray Davis signed long term energy contracts with several companies in an effort to stabilize both the price and distribution of electricity at that time; a strategy that worked!
When it later was disclosed that the energy "shortage" which resulted in the rolling brownouts was a massive fraud implemented by Enron, Davis and California attempted to void or otherwise negotiate their way out of these now high priced long term contracts. Many companies renegotiated, but some had to be sued to void the contracts.
NRG's position was that it had nothing to do with the fraud and that under contract law they were entitled to the "benefit of their bargain' and decided to aggressively defend their position in litigation.
When Jerry Brown became Governor, the NRG litigation was over 10 years old, costing more and more money to prosecute and going nowhere fast!
Gov. Brown then negotiated a $120 million settlement of the lawsuit as described in more detail in the linked publicity release.