Jones Names New Public Advisor to Would Be Intervenors

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has named a new public advisor to assist members of the public and consumer groups with the Proposition 103 intervenor process, under which consumer groups can intervene in proceedings for insurance rate increases and decreases.

Jones named enforcement attorney Ed Wu to the post. Jones has directed Wu to reach out to consumer groups to educate them about the rate application process.

Dating back to the program’s launch in 2003 along with Prop. 103, Santa Monica, Calif.-based Consumer Watchdog has been the most commonly listed intervenor, according to CDI’s list of intervenors.

That has caused some to question the program’s worth.

In May, state Sen Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, became the latest person to question intervenor fees, calling on CDI to review the program. In February a website was launched attacking Consumer Watchdog and its use of intervenor fees.