Energy

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

Consumer Advocates Say Refineries May Have Falsified Information

November 17, 2012 · Jamie Court

Consumer Watchdog, saying that refineries operating in the state may have falsified information to help boost gasoline prices, wants the California attorney general to launch a criminal investigation. The advocacy group made its request in a letter to state Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris. “It appears that California’s oil refineries falsified public information to drive up the price of gasoline," Consumer Watchdog’s president, Jamie Court, and energy project director, Liza Tucker, said in the letter.

Export, Baby, Export: And Keep Gas Prices Up

November 9, 2012 · Liza Tucker

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2526" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/images_keystonepipeline.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 127px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right; " width="639" height="407" />As gas prices spiked in California last month to blow past even Hawaii’s highest-in-the-nation, the state’s refineries were exporting gas. That’s right, exporting, just like the rest of the nation’s refineries. According to the Energy Department, we are now net exporters of fuel for the first time since 1949.

U.S. Fuel Exports Grow To Historic Levels

November 7, 2012 · Mark Reback

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-9912" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/images_950_0.jpg" style="width: 187px; height: 353px; margin-left: 7px; margin-right: 7px; float: right;" width="187" height="353" />If you're wondering what happened to cheap U.S. fuel, look to Mexico, Canada and even OPEC member Venezuela. U.S. refiners are selling diesel and gasoline to those and other countries at historically high levels, making the nation a net exporter of fuel for the first time since 1949, according to the Energy Department.

Hyundai, Kia Reduced MPG Ratings May Hinder Resale

November 5, 2012 · Mark Reback

About a third of the Hyundai and Kia vehicles sold in the U.S. in the past three years could face reduced resale values, some more than others. The admission that sister auto brands Hyundai and Kia inflated gas-mileage figures could lower resale values on affected models, experts said Monday.

Going Rogue in the Golden State: Regulating Chevron

November 1, 2012 · Liza Tucker

<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2510" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/la-oe-court-california-gas-prices-20121012-001.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 166px; float: right;" width="600" height="399" />If there’s one industry that has free rein in California, it’s the refinery business. California doesn’t regulate supplies of gasoline, so refineries here only keep around ten days on hand, instead of the more than three week supply most refineries do in other states. We’ve only got 14 refineries here making gasoline, down by half from a few decades ago.

California Gasoline Consumers Hurt By Few Suppliers, Outages

October 22, 2012 · Mark Reback

For nearly two decades, Santosh Arya has pumped some of the San Diego area's cheapest gas at his three Homeland Petroleum stations. But his streak ended early this month, when wholesale prices started rising sharply, then shot up 40 cents a gallon overnight. To break even, Arya calculated he would have to sell a gallon of regular at $5.10 — almost a buck higher than at nearby Shell and 76 stations. Instead, he shut down and waited for prices to drop.

Consumer Group Wants Calif. AG Harris To Block $2.5 Billion Gas Deal

October 18, 2012 · Mark Reback

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Consumer Watchdog urged California Attorney General Kamala Harris on Wednesday to block a $2.5 billion offer by Tesoro to acquire Arco gas stations and BP’s refinery in Carson.

Consumer Advocates Do Not Want Carson Refinery Sold

October 15, 2012 · Mark Reback

California consumer advocates are piping up about a Texas company's plan to buy a major fuel refinery in Carson, California. San Antonio-based Tesoro is hoping to buy the Carson refinery and hundreds of retail gas stations from British Petroleum. The multibillion-dollar sale would transfer one of the state's largest refineries and Arco gas stations from BP to Tesoro.

Will Gas Prices Continue To Keep Californians Over A Barrel?

October 14, 2012 · Jamie Court

<img class=" size-full wp-image-2466" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/jamiepic-new1.jpg" style="width: 133px; height: 200px; " width="133" height="200" />Californians finally saw $5 per gallon at their pumps last week. Unfortunately, it's not likely to be the last time.

OP-ED: Refueling California

October 12, 2012 · Consumer Watchdog

The following Op-Ed Commentary was published on <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-court-california-gas-prices-20121012%2C0%2C1450818.story">Saturday, Oct. 12, 2012, in the Los Angeles Times</a>.

Gas Price In State Start To Inch Down

October 11, 2012 · Consumer Watchdog

But big drops won't come until station owners sell out costly fuel

Tesoro Plan To Buy ARCO Gets More Scrutiny Amid Gas-Price Surge

October 10, 2012 · Consumer Watchdog

Consumer groups gear up to fight the sale of Arco and its Carson refinery to Tesoro, saying it would reduce competition and possibly lead to higher fuel costs. As California gasoline prices set fresh records daily, consumer advocates are gearing up to fight the sale of the low-cost Arco brand and its Carson refinery to a Texas company not known for its cheap fuel.