Energy

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

Apple Music Draws Calls For Federal Probe

July 22, 2015 · Mark Reback

A consumer group is asking federal regulators to look at whether Apple broke antitrust rules while establishing its new music service.

California Oil Refineries’ Gross Profits Nearly Double In 2015

July 22, 2015 · Mark Reback

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. From Jan. 1 to July 6, oil refineries almost doubled the typical amount they collect on a gallon of gasoline, state data show.

Gas Companies Accused Of Ripping Off California At The Pump

July 22, 2015 · Mark Reback

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.

Two Associations Square Off On Higher Gas Prices

July 22, 2015 · Mark Reback

<div class="withRelated left" id="WNStoryBody"> Frustrated with high gas prices? You're not alone. At a North Hills Mobil Station on the corner of Sepulveda and Nordhoff some drivers told us dealing with the higher prices is hard. One motorist said it cost him $100 bucks round trip to get to Anaheim. Another driver said, "I'm not gonna lie, it's a killer!" A couple of weeks ago, we were told the oil market was volatile, refinery problems and slow imports were to blame for a sudden spike in prices at the pump.

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."