SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra Thursday announced a $102 million settlement with BP Energy Company and affiliates (BP) over allegations that it intentionally overcharged the State of California for natural gas that the State purchased under three successive contracts from March 2003 to August 2012. The contracts allowed the California Department of General Services, which buys natural gas for numerous state agencies and political subdivisions, to cap the price it would pay BP for specific volumes of gas. BP regularly quoted and charged the State of California prices that violated this cap and concealed its overpricing by providing false and misleading information. These acts constitute violations of the California False Claims Act.
“BP thought it could get away with providing false and misleading information in order to line its own pockets. Today, we send a clear message: cheating the People of California will cost you more than it’s worth,” said Attorney General Becerra. “My Office is committed to holding accountable those who unscrupulously put profits ahead of people.”
The case began on July 3, 2012, when a former employee filed a complaint alleging the overcharges. According to the complaint, BP knowingly quoted and charged prices in excess of the contractual price cap. Upon receiving the complaint, the California Attorney General’s Office investigated and concluded that BP was liable for overpricing. The Attorney General intervened in the case and took primary responsibility for prosecuting the action.
Under the settlement, BP will be required to pay $102 million in damages, which will be shared by the state and local agencies that purchased gas under the contracts, the former employee whistleblower, and the Attorney General’s office.
An electronic version of this release is available at oag.ca.gov/news
14 comments
I heard on the radio, CA overpaid $300 million, now getting back $102 million. Good job Sacramento, and thanks for wasting my tax dollars!
Lets see… supposedly they overcharged by $300 million. They had to pay $102 million? And the attorney generals office is applauding themselves for teaching BP a lesson? I would have to say BP is still ahead by $200 million! Great lesson attorney generals office. I must say i now know why California schools are so screwed up!!! Keep up the great work in Sacramento!
I think most of the “gas” came from Becerra’s read end.
Yeah, from all those beans he consumes!
Yea E.E. we should use “gas” chambers again, but this time for all minorities right? I’d prefer Zyklon B with a hint of lemon.
Shes probably a fat women that shops at Walmart, eats at McDonalds everyday and has 10 cats.
Shes probably a fat chick, that shops at Walmart, buys McDonalds every day and owns 10 cats.
Beans? Oh cause hes Mexican and a beaner? How original, how long did it take you and your racist buddies to come up with that joke?
@beans
Yeah ‘cause he is Mexican- NOT American. Duh. It seems it took you a long while to get the reference. Ask your amigos next time-you know the ones that hang out all day at our Home Depot’s. They might be a little bit smarter than you.
Next up is a math quiz. Becerra obviously can’t count, can you?
Heres a quiz for you, when did you first realize you liked being a cuckold?
Please learn to spell!
I never saw a natural gas pipeline labeled BP Energy. How did BP get the gas to the State run facilities? How did they account for how much BP produced and the State consumed? $300 million charged?
WTF?
It is amazing that the State gets the money and those who purchased the gas (the end user or customer) are the ones out the money. Why is the money not refunded to those who paid? This is business as usual in Sacramento and someone believing they did something good cause they got 1/3 back.
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