Energy

Consumer Advocates Accuse Gas Companies of Price Gouging

October 15, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>A watchdog group says a lack of competition in California has allowed gas companies to make an unprecedented mark-up at the pump</strong></p> <p>If you live in California, and think you’re paying too much at the pump, you are likely not imagining it.</p> <p>Consumer Watchdog, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, said in a press release Oct. 13 that they found the gap between wholesale and retail gas prices is at an historic high in the state, signaling what they call price gouging.</p>

California Oil Refiners Accused Of Gas Price Gouging By Consumer Group

October 13, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A consumer advocacy group testified Tuesday that California oil refiners are gouging motorists by hiking retail gasoline prices well above the wholesale price of gas traded within the oil industry.</p> <p>In testimony before the California Energy Commission’s Petroleum Market Advisory Committee, Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court said the gap between retail and wholesale prices has never been greater.</p>

Federal Lawmakers Again Blast ExxonMobil For Hampering Federal Investigations Ahead Of Tuesday Refinery Meeting

October 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>South Bay Reps. Ted Lieu and Maxine Waters have slammed ExxonMobil a second time for failing to comply with a federal investigation into a <a href="http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20150218/explosion-at-torrance-exxonmobil-refinery-injures-4-spike-in-gas-prices-expected" target="_blank" rel="noopener">February explosion </a>and September leak of modified hydrofluoric acid at its Torrance refinery.</p>

Santa Monica Group Blasts Exxon’s Refinery Sale

October 2, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Immediately after announcing this week the company is selling its Torrance refinery, which has shut down since an explosion in February, ExxonMobile officials came under fire from Consumer Watchdog in Santa Monica.</p> <p>“Is Exxon trying to wash its hands of responsibility for ignoring subpoenas, allegedly hiding witnesses and endangering the public?” the nonprofit group which advocates on behalf of California consumers asked on its website.</p>

Will Exxon Get Off The Hook With Refinery Sale?

October 1, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><a href="http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/which-way-la/unifying-health-services-in-a-county-divided">Click here and then scroll down to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>.</p>

Troubled ExxonMobil Refinery In Torrance To Get New Owner

September 30, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="prose-body"> <p class="inaugural"><strong>The troubled ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance is set to get new ownership under a $537.5 million deal announced today by petroleum refiner PBF.</strong></p> <p>The 750-acre refinery has been under scrutiny by local and state regulators <a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/02/18/49911/explosion-at-exxon-mobil-refinery-in-torrance-resi/">since a massive explosion</a> at the facility in February touched off shaking the equivalent of an 1.7 earthquake.</p>

Damaged Torrance Exxon Refinery Sold; Gas Prices Unlikely To Drop Soon

September 30, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>ExxonMobil's damaged Torrance plant will be bought by a New Jersey-based oil refining company. The $537.5-million deal, announced Wednesday, will take effect after repairs have been completed early next year.</p> <p>Consumers will see no immediate effect on gasoline prices in the Los Angeles area, where they've paid as much as $1.50 more a gallon than the rest of the nation after an explosion ripped through the refinery in February.</p>

NJ Company Purchasing Exxon Torrance Refinery

September 30, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>A New Jersey-based oil refining company announced today it is purchasing the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance that was badly damaged in a February explosion, with the $527.5 million deal expected to close in the second quarter of 2016.</p> <p>The deal, subject to "customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals," will also not be closed until the refinery is "restored to full working order," according to the buyer, PBF Energy.</p>

ExxonMobil Cover Up?

September 24, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Consumer Watchdog Wednesday accused ExxonMobil of a cover up following an explosion at its Torrance refinery in February that sent gas prices spiraling.</p> <p>In his accusation against ExxonMobil, Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court says the company is refusing to turn over requested documents and hiding an employee key to the probe from investigators.</p> <p>Court says the explosion caused a fuel prices to skyrocket, leaving California drivers stuck paying six-billion dollars more for gasoline an the rest of the country.  Tom Perumean, KABC NEWS.</p>

Exxon Mobil Scraps Plans For Temporary Fix To Damaged Torrance Refinery

September 23, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Just when Southern California motorists were expecting to see some relief from high gasoline prices in the next few weeks, they now may have to wait well into next winter — at least.</p> <p>Exxon Mobil Corp., still at loggerheads with air quality regulators over a short-term fix for the company's damaged Torrance refinery, appears poised to build a new pollution-control system that meets antipollution specifications, several experts briefed on the matter said.</p>

Exxon Refinery Explosion Has Lasting Effect on Gas Prices: Consumer Group

September 23, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<script type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" src="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/portableplayer/?cmsID=328960021&videoID=cuJv2hcOK71F&origin=nbclosangeles.com&sec=news&subsec=local&width=600&height=360"></script> <p class="paragraph" data-pnum="1">Members of a consumer-advocacy group accused ExxonMobil today of trying to subvert an investigation into a February explosion at the company's Torrance refinery, saying the firm is refusing to turn over requested documents and hiding an employee key to the probe from investigators.</p>

Lower L.A. Gas Prices Coming Soon? Exxon Mobil Is Poised To Increase Output At Torrance Refinery

September 11, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Exxon Mobil's plan to increase production at its Torrance refinery appears on track for approval, which could help lower gasoline prices in the Los Angeles region within weeks.</p> <p>The latest schedule would bring Exxon Mobil Corp. before the South Coast Air Quality Management District on Thursday seeking permission to use an old pollution-control system to replace one destroyed in an explosion at the Torrance plant in February.</p>