Energy

Santa Monica Group Claims Gas Price Rigging over Holiday

July 2, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span class="timesDatelineBlack">July 2, 2015</span> -- 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.</p>

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

June 30, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>High gas prices in California are being "manipulated" by oil refiners, a consumers' group believes.</p> <p>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 <span class="xn-location">California</span> gasoline prices artificially high."</p>

Consumer Group Says Refiners Artificially Keeping California Gas Prices High

June 30, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>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.</p>

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"> <p><span style="font-size: 11.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'">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 </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11.000000pt; font-family: 'Georgia'">stations pay -- the biggest price gap in years, according to a consumer advocacy group. </span></p>

California Gasoline Exports Blamed for Price Spike at the Pump

June 12, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>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 <i>Chron</i>$ 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.</p>

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

June 11, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)</strong> — 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.</p> <p>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.</p>

Record Exports Led To Higher California Gas Prices, Activists Say

June 10, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>In December, one month before pump prices started soaring across California, a record amount of gasoline left West Coast refineries, to be sold elsewhere.</p> <p>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.</p>

Shareholders Endorse Google’s Course

June 3, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><font style="font-size:1.2em;">Google shareholders on Wednesday endorsed the course set by the Internet titan, rejecting proposals to dilute its power structure and scrutinize investments in renewable energy.</font></p> <p><font style="font-size:1.2em;">Voting at the California-based company's annual shareholders meeting ended with the recommended slate of board members elected and passage of a company proposal to increase the potential number of C Class shares issued.</font></p>

Gasoline Price-Gouging Evidence Grows

June 1, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Just about two years ago, when gasoline prices in most of California last moved well above the $4-per-gallon level, crude oil cost $147 a barrel. Oil companies said the high price of crude was a major factor in that price spike.</p> <p>This spring, when gas pump prices again jumped above $4 in many places, crude oil fell under $50 per barrel for awhile before recovering a bit to around $60 near the end of May.</p>

Rising Gas Prices Aren’t Putting The Brakes On Car Travel For The Holiday Weekend, AAA Says

May 20, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Will rising gas prices put a U-turn in holiday<b> </b>travel plans?<br /> <br /> Not according to AAA, which expects 37 million Americans to travel during the Memorial Day weekend, the most since 2005. The group expects 2.31 million people in Southern California to hit the road.<br /> <br /> Driving, AAA says, will be the top choice for travelers nationwide as 9 out of 10 travelers, or 33 million people, will use a vehicle to get to their holiday destination.<br /> <br />

Price Gouge A Slick Move By Oil Companies

May 19, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<div class="copy-paste-block"> <p class="Index-Tribune-Text_Nimrod">There is absolutely no doubt about a few facts surrounding the gasoline price surge Californians experienced in late winter and early spring.</p> <p class="Index-Tribune-Text_Nimrod">In March, California prices averaged 84 cents per gallon higher than the national average of $2.54 per gallon, rising to $3.38 after a wintertime dip.</p> <p class="Index-Tribune-Text_Nimrod">That meant Californians spent $34 million per day more for their gas that month than they would have in most other places.</p>

Tom Steyer Eyes New Oil Tax And Gas-Price Transparency

May 16, 2015  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>Billionaire Tom Steyer wants to tax extraction and require more transparency</strong></p> <p>ANAHEIM, CA -- Walthy Bay Area environmentalist Tom Steyer, who for weeks has been lambasting oil companies about gasoline prices, said Friday he was exploring another potential cudgel against the industry: ballot measures to tax oil extraction and require more public disclosure on pricing and supply.</p>