Energy

Gasoline Prices Surge in California, Retreat in Rest of the Country

July 13, 2015 · Mark Reback

Multiple choice quiz. Why are gasoline prices in California soaring while declining in much of the country? A) California uses a special blend of gasoline for environmental reasons that limits the quantity and costs; B) maintenance shutdowns are felt more acutely in California’s smaller, self-contained refinery network; C) demand is up; D) there is a shortage of crude oil; E) oligarchs are gouging gullible consumers; F) all of the above.

Valley Gas Prices Start to Climb

July 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. -

Are Oil Companies Deliberately Gouging California Drivers?

July 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

A spike in Los Angeles wholesale fuel prices and a negative report on West Coast gasoline inventories could spell trouble for California drivers in coming days. Pump price surveys Friday show prices in California are zooming up even as they slowly decline in the rest of the country.

Consumer Advocates: Oil Refiners Manipulate California Gas Prices

July 6, 2015 · Mark Reback

Filling up at the pump is often painful in California, where drivers tend to pay more for gasoline than in most other states. Many industry watchers attribute the high fuel costs to unique forces — chiefly California's clean-burning gasoline formula — that have isolated the market and kept it tightly balanced between supply and demand. But some consumer advocates and politicians allege that price manipulation by oil refiners is to blame.

Consumer Watchdog Alleges Gas-Price Manipulation in California

July 2, 2015 · Mark Reback

Santa Monica Group Claims Gas Price Rigging over Holiday

July 2, 2015 · Mark Reback

July 2, 2015 -- As an estimated 2.4 million Southern Californians hit the roads this Fourth of July holiday weekend, a Santa Monica consumers’ group is ramping up its war on alleged price rigging at the gas pump by oil companies.

Consumer Group Alleges Gas Price Manipulation by California Refiners

June 30, 2015 · Mark Reback

<div class="page" title="Page 1"> <div class="section" style="background-color: rgb(100.000000%, 100.000000%, 100.000000%)"> <div class="layoutArea"> <div class="column"> Major oil refiners are artificially hiking gasoline prices throughout California by charging branded gas stations an average of 30 cents a gallon more than what independent stations pay -- the biggest price gap in years, according to a consumer advocacy group.

High Gas Prices in California ‘Manipulated’ by Oil Refiners, Says Consumer Group

June 30, 2015 · Mark Reback

High gas prices in California are being "manipulated" by oil refiners, a consumers' group believes. The group, "Consumer Watchdog," presented its analysis to the California Attorney General today that it says proves the state's largest oil refiners have used "unprecedented price manipulation to keep California gasoline prices artificially high."

Consumer Group Says Refiners Artificially Keeping California Gas Prices High

June 30, 2015 · Mark Reback

Oil refiners are gouging California motorists by charging branded stations an average of 30 cents more a gallon for gasoline than unbranded stations, a consumer advocacy group said Tuesday.

California Gasoline Exports Blamed for Price Spike at the Pump

June 12, 2015 · Mark Reback

A consumer advocacy group — Consumer Watchdog — is blaming i<a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Activists-say-record-exports-led-to-higher-6319821.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ncreased gasoline exports from California for the recent spike in pump prices in the state</a>, the Chron$ reports. Oil companies in California set a record for exports late last year, leaving the state with less gasoline — and thus higher prices. Consumer Watchdog is calling on the state to increase regulation of the oil industry.

Consumer Group Alleges Oil Exports Fueled Jump In Calif. Gas Prices

June 11, 2015 · Mark Reback

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Oil companies exported “unprecedented” amounts of gasoline from the West Coast to foreign nations just prior to a huge spike in the price of gasoline in California, a consumer advocacy group said Thursday. Citing information from federal sources, Jamie Court with Consumer Watchdog told reporters the exports came just one month before California experienced a “supply crisis” that raised gasoline prices in California over a dollar above the national average.

Record Exports Led To Higher California Gas Prices, Activists Say

June 10, 2015 · Mark Reback

In December, one month before pump prices started soaring across California, a record amount of gasoline left West Coast refineries, to be sold elsewhere. Exports of finished gasoline from the West Coast hit an abrupt, all-time high of 2.7 million barrels in December, according to federal government data. The export surge came as California gasoline prices slid below $3 per gallon for the first time since 2010.