Energy

Rise in gasoline prices

March 10, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CBS TV Evening News (6:30 PM EST)</p> <p>Mr. JAMIE COURT (Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights): We are going to see a dollar run up at the pump if things keep going this way by summer. And that is going to put a very serious dent in the economy.</p>

Pump prices flirt with $3;

March 9, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Sacramento area sees jump of 35 cents a gallon in last month.</h3><p class="source">Sacramento Bee</p> <p>The power outage explanation drew scoffs from the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, which said the real blame lies with the refineries. The foundation said the refiners are guilty of a "deliberate shrinking of refinery capacity," making the market vulnerable to the slightest hiccups.</p>

Cash Question Still Looms Over Exxon Mobil

March 9, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Oil Daily</p> <p>One group -- the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights -- recently attacked Exxon, saying the company continues to hoard tens of billions of dollars rather than invest in refineries and oil alternatives.</p>

Refinery profit margins double in West;

March 9, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>It's one reason price of gas in state is up 44 cents since Feb. 1</h3><p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>Consumer advocates call many of the refinery problems a sham. The oil companies, they say, are limiting gasoline supplies to drive up prices and profit margins, just as power companies did during the state's electricity crisis six years ago. "What this industry needs to make big profits and what consumers need to have reasonable prices are very different things," said Judy Dugan, research director for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.</p>

Gas Prices Rise More Than 30 Cents in One Month

March 8, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CSNews.com</p> <p>FTCR has actively spoken out against the gasoline marketplace on the West Coast before. A 46 cent price gap between the U.S. average price for gasoline and California's was more than can be accounted for by the state's slightly higher gasoline taxes, the group said in February after spokesmen and analysts accused a glitch at a Texas refinery for the price hike.</p>

California watchdog group cries foul on big oil

March 7, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Land Line Magazine</p> <p>In addition to the request for an investigation by the California Attorney General, FTCR is also calling on U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to hold hearings to force the oil companies to stop exerting pressure on Gilbarco or other manufacturers. "California is the test case for the temperature-adjusted pump in America," foundation President Jamie Court stated in a press release. "We must not allow one powerful industry to foil a fair and honest accounting for American motorists."</p>

Hot gas costs California drivers;

March 6, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>Fuel expands in heat, but special pumps could compensate for temperature swings</h3><p class="source">THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE</p> <p>Consumer advocate Jamie Court on Monday called for the California attorney general to investigate whether any undue pressure had been placed on Gilbarco not to sell its pumps in the state. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said the office will look into the matter.</p>

Group wants AG to probe gas pumps, saying consumers are gouged

March 6, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">The Contra Costa Times (California)</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said motorists in warm-weather states such as California can be shortchanged when they fill up without the type of gas pump made by the company. The Santa Monica-based group suggested that Gilbarco Veeder-Root decided not to market the fuel pump and a retrofit device to upgrade existing pumps because of pressure from the oil industry.</p>

A BEATING AT THE PUMP;

March 5, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>DRIVERS DIG DEEPER AS PRICES RISE</h3><p class="source">Modesto Bee</p> <p>One consumer advocacy group, Santa Monica's Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, called this week for "immediate action by Congress and California lawmakers to regulate gasoline supplies and curb price gouging by oil companies and refiners." The foundation added, "If oil companies won't increase their refinery capacity and gasoline storage in the state, government must do it."</p>

Debut of fix for ‘hot fuel’ on hold:

March 4, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<h3>A company backs off plans to sell retail pumps that would solve the problem in California.</h3><p class="source">The Kansas City Star (Missouri)</p> <p>"Now that regulators have done their job and certified technology to cool down the hot-gas market, the oil companies should not be allowed to pressure manufacturers to deny Californians fair and honest accounting at the pump," said Jamie Court, president of The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica, Calif. "This could be the oil industry's Waterloo."</p>

State gas prices zooming near $3

February 28, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">Sacramento Bee (California)</p> <p>Yet California prices have risen more quickly than in the rest of the country. The traditional "spread" of 20 cents to 30 cents, caused in part by California's tougher fuel specifications, has grown to a whopping 46 cents. One consumer advocacy group, Santa Monica's Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, called this week for "immediate action by Congress and California lawmakers to regulate gasoline supplies and curb price-gouging by oil companies and refiners."</p>

California’s Gas Price Higher Than U.S. Average

February 28, 2007  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p class="source">CSNews.com</p> <p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said there is no credible reason for the large and widening disparity, and called for immediate action by Congress and California lawmakers to regulate gasoline supplies and curb price-gouging by oil companies and refiners, the report stated.</p>