Golden State Gouge: The Summer of Record Refining Profits
In the six months since California’s record gasoline price spike began in February, Californians have paid $4.8 billion more than the rest of the country...
Energy
Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.
NextGen Climate Founder Tom Steyer Joins Consumer Watchdog In Call for Oil Company Accountability and Lays Out Initiative Framework
<p><img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2883" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/jamie_court_tom_steyer_oil_press_conference_aug_5_2015_shot_4.png" style="width: 250px; height: 247px; float: right;" width="1200" height="1187" />NextGen Climate Founder and businessman Tom Steyer joined Consumer Watchdog today to release a new report on California oil refiner price gouging.
Steyer To CA Politicians: Time To Act On Gas Prices
<p>Billionaire activist Tom Steyer wants the Legislature to fix what he calls California’s dysfunctional gasoline market, with drivers here paying $1 more for a gallon of regular than other Americans.</p>
<p>And if the Legislature doesn’t act, Steyer may go to the voters with a ballot measure.</p>
Billionaire Wants Oil Refiners To Disclose California Profit
<p>SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Billionaire environmentalist Tom Steyer called on California legislators Wednesday to require oil companies to disclose how much they make in profits from refining oil in the state.</p>
<p>Steyer was joined by the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog in condemning what they called historic profits for oil refiners at the expense of consumers.</p>
Gas ‘Shortage’ Doesn’t Stop Exports From California
<p>On June 25, just one week before many California motorists began paying upwards of $4.30 per gallon for gasoline, the Bahamian-flagged tanker Teesta Spirit left Los Angeles headed for ports on the west coast of Mexico carrying more than 300,000 barrels of gasoline refined in California.</p>
<p>The Teesta Spirit was just one of nine large tankers that left California ports carrying gasoline to places like Mexico and Chile between June 25 and July 23 at a time when oil companies were raising prices by as much as $1 per gallon in some regions.</p>
Valero Profit Rises On High Gas Prices
<p>California's sky-high gasoline prices translated into a big second-quarter profit for refiner Valero Energy Corp.</p>
<p>The San Antonio company said operating income from its two California refineries soared to $295 million for the quarter that ended June 30, or more than 11 times the $24 million earned in the year-earlier quarter.</p>
<p>Valero’s operations in California had a bigger year-over-year increase than any of the company’s other U.S. locations.</p>
Gas Being Exported From California Despite ‘Shortage’
<p>On June 25, just one week before many California motorists began paying upwards of $4.30 per gallon for gasoline, the Bahamian-flagged tanker Teesta Spirit left Los Angeles headed for ports on the west coast of Mexico carrying more 300,000 barrels of gasoline refined in California.</p>
<p>The Teesta Spirit was just one of nine large tankers that left California ports carrying gasoline to places like Mexico and Chile between June 25 and July 23, at a time when oil companies were raising prices by as much as $1 per gallon in some regions.</p>
Consumer Advocates Call On Calif. Attorney General To Investigate Oil Industry
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<p class="inaugural">Consumer advocates are asking California Attorney General Kamala Harris to look into record-high oil industry profits this year.</p>
California Consumer Advocates Complain About Record Oil Industry Profits
<p><a href="http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/jul/23/california-consumer-advocates-complain-about-recor/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment</a>.</p>
<p>Consumer advocates said oil refineries are logging record profits as the state's drivers pay gas prices well above $4 a gallon.</p>
Apple Music Draws Calls For Federal Probe
<p dir="ltr">A consumer group is asking federal regulators to look at whether Apple broke antitrust rules while establishing its new music service.</p>
California Oil Refineries’ Gross Profits Nearly Double In 2015
<p>As Los Angeles drivers shelled out more than $4 a gallon at the pump in recent weeks, the state's oil refineries pocketed record amounts of money — as much as $1.17 a gallon in gross profits.</p>
<p>From Jan. 1 to July 6, oil refineries almost doubled the typical amount they collect on a gallon of gasoline, state data show.</p>
Gas Companies Accused Of Ripping Off California At The Pump
<p>As drivers in California continue to pay well over $4 per gallon at the pump, the state's oil refineries are raking in record profits, raising a few eyebrows.</p>