Energy

Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.

Gas Price Gouging Indications Grow Stronger

February 22, 2016 · Mark Reback

<div> <p>As corporate profit reports rolled in this winter from the gasoline refining industry, the case for gas price gouging grew steadily stronger.</p> <p>Start with the profits of the largest refiners operating in California. Then proceed to strange activities by an oil tanker, Exxon Mobil’s SR American Progress. Close with hard figures provided by the state Energy Commission’s senior fuels specialist during a mid-February hearing. Look also at the almost 80-cent price differential between gasoline here and the average price everywhere else in the continental U.S.</p>

Gas Falls Under $2 In State

February 11, 2016 · Mark Reback

<div> <p>California drivers are finally cheering instead of hissing the price of gas, as dozens of Northern California stations are selling fuel for under $2 a gallon -- the first time prices have dropped this low in eight years.</p> </div> <div> <p>"It's about time," Ivan Rodriguez, of San Jose, said, smiling, as he lined up at the Gas & Shop at 1590 McKee Road to fill his beige Ford Focus at $1.97 per gallon on Wednesday. Cars were three deep waiting for open pumps.</p> </div> <div> <p>"Right now," a harried cashier said, "we're busy."</p>

Consumer Watchdog: Mystery Tanker Helped Drive Up Gas Prices in CA

February 10, 2016 · Mark Reback

<p>A consumer advocate says California paid $10 billion dollars more for gas than the rest of the country partly because of the movements of a “mystery tanker.” Consumer Watchdog’s Jamie Court says his organization tracked the Exxon oil tanker “American Progress” along with other ships and made didn’t like what they found.</p>

Why A Consumer Group Thinks Oil Companies Worked Together To Inflate Gas Prices

February 9, 2016 · Mark Reback

<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-11513" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/images_gaspricescavsusa.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 264px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="455" height="400" />Collusion among California oil refiners “artificially inflated” pump prices in a move that enabled oil companies to make a “killing” in the wake of an <a href="http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20160113/feds-botched-safety-reviews-contributed-to-exxonmobil-refinery-explosion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explosion last winter at ExxonMobil’s Torrance refinery,</a> nonprofit group Consumer Watchdog al

Did Exxon Hide Oil Tanker Overseas to Drive Up Gas Prices?

February 9, 2016 · Mark Reback

<p><script type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" src="http://www.nbcsandiego.com/portableplayer/?cmsID=368251221&videoID=MyVO4Ea52joo&origin=nbcsandiego.com&sec=news&subsec=local&width=600&height=360"></script></p> <p><strong>Keeping supply low and driving up prices</strong></p> <p>California drivers pay more to fill their gas tank than drivers across the country, but Consumer Watchdog says that's because big oil companies manipulate the fuel supply.</p>

Mysterious Ship Helped Keep California Gas Prices High, Consumer Advocate Says

February 9, 2016 · Mark Reback

<p>There's an unusual new entry to the long list of reasons why Californians spent the last year paying significantly more for gasoline than other U.S. drivers: a mystery ship.</p> <p>The explosion at Exxon Mobil's huge Torrance refinery a year ago undoubtedly was a major factor contributing to high gasoline prices in California, especially in the Los Angeles area, fuel experts have said.</p>