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California's Gas Watchdog Warns of Gouging
Posted on 3/20/26 at 2:40 pm
Posted on 3/20/26 at 2:40 pm
quote:
California’s energy regulator is keeping a close watch on the state’s gasoline market for potential price gouging as the Iran war spikes oil and fuel costs around the globe.
Some gas stations are charging as much as $8 a gallon, “extraordinarily high prices” that are out of line with crude oil and gasoline futures prices, the Division of Petroleum Market Oversight said in a press release on Thursday.
Drivers in the golden state currently pay an average $5.66 for a gallon of gasoline, about a dollar below the all time high set in 2022, according to the American Automobile Association. That 2022 price spike ushered in a wave of regulation aimed at California’s refining and fuels industry, including establishing the DPMO.
Fuel sellers engaging in unfair or anticompetitive practices will be referred for prosecution if necessary, the watchdog said.
“Reports of price gouging will be taken seriously and DPMO is already engaging with gasoline retailers whose high prices may not be justified by increases in their input costs,” the agency said in a public notice.
The notice comes as California’s oil industry is pulled into the national spotlight with a contested oil drilling project getting the green light by the Trump administration in an effort to try to increase supply and tamp down spiraling energy costs.
quote:
Two fuel-making plants in California have closed in the last six months — Phillips 66’s Los Angeles refinery and Valero Energy Corp.’s Benicia plant near San Francisco amid a tough regulatory environment in the state.
The state has grown more reliant on imports with domestic refining capacity and oil production dwindling. Several projects slated to pipe fuel into the region from as far as Texas and the Midwest are yet to reach a final investment decision.
The California energy regulator has urged drivers to shop around for unbranded gasoline that can be significantly cheaper than branded varieties.
LINK
What a joke. The state that has layered taxes and fees upon taxes and fees for gasoline, and restricts the way fuel can be sourced into the state, has a watchdog group warning businesses of price gouging on gas.
9
Posted on 3/20/26 at 2:46 pm to ragincajun03
frick California
This post was edited on 3/20/26 at 2:47 pm
Posted on 3/20/26 at 2:47 pm to ragincajun03
In b4,
“The market price is how much a person is willing to pay for it”
The OT
“The market price is how much a person is willing to pay for it”
The OT
Posted on 3/20/26 at 2:47 pm to ragincajun03
It's a defacto utility there, just gotta accept that you are not going to make profits hand over fist unless you grease the officials to monopolize the utility somehow.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 2:48 pm to ragincajun03
I'm glad there's no gas watchdog around me right now because the enchiladas and bean soup I ate for lunch are causing a troubling and frankly almost concerning level of flatulence for me this afternoon.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 2:54 pm to ragincajun03
they are all gouging this week
Posted on 3/20/26 at 3:01 pm to ninthward
quote:
they are all gouging this week
That would be price fixing, not gouging.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 3:10 pm to ragincajun03
quote:
The California energy regulator has urged drivers to shop around for unbranded gasoline that can be significantly cheaper than branded varieties.
Don't worry about the clogged injectors and premature catalytic converter failures, we dont want you to own a car anyway...
Posted on 3/20/26 at 3:14 pm to PeteRose
quote:
In b4, “The market price is how much a person is willing to pay for it” The OT
Americans pay more for what they want than what they need.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 3:18 pm to ragincajun03
quote:
Some gas stations are charging as much as $8 a gallon
Curious as to where they're seeing that. I know in remote parts along the coast you'll see much higher prices and the stations around LAX sure as hell take advantage of their location.
quote:
$5.66 for a gallon of gasoline
I paid $5.69 last weekend for premium at Costco. God only knows what that's going to be the next time I fill up but we've done this to ourselves as a state. For anyone that paid attention we knew what was coming with who runs things out here. Until that changes this is a part of living out here.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 4:07 pm to ragincajun03
The number-1 gas price gouger in the California, is the state of California. With one stroke of a pen, they could suspend the state gas taxes and stop the bullshite of having summer gas and winter gas (which causes the refineries to switch over and pass that cost on to the citizens). Because gas starts to degrade between 3-6 months, they start selling to the plain state markets two months before each switchover.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 4:24 pm to N2cars
Wow, I didn't realize there were special refineries and pipelines just for non gas company branded gas stations like Wawa, QT, CircleK, etc.
All of it is regulated by ASTM and the EPA, but OK.
Gasoline in a region usually comes from the same pipelines and terminals.
The difference is additives and station maintenance, not the logo.
All of it is regulated by ASTM and the EPA, but OK.
Gasoline in a region usually comes from the same pipelines and terminals.
The difference is additives and station maintenance, not the logo.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 4:37 pm to LemmyLives
quote:
The difference is additives and station maintenance, not the logo.
That's exactly what I was talking about.
Chevron, She'll, etc use better additives and cleaning agents in their products.
Everyone's octane rating is the same, or should be.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 4:52 pm to N2cars
quote:
Chevron, She'll, etc use better additives and cleaning agents in their products.
I get what you're saying, but why don't BMW, MB, or even Ford (with my Explorer ST) insist on detergent laced fuel? Even without the occasional use of a bottle of Gum Out, or diesel additive in my truck, nothing bad happens, and hasn't for 35 years of owning a vehicle using Sam's, Murphy, etc. gas.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 5:05 pm to LemmyLives
Not that I know of...
They do insist on 93 octane though.
I've run Chevron for years and never had a single fuel system issue. I like Techron a lot and feel it's worth the price.
Bottle additives dont do much good, IMO.
They do insist on 93 octane though.
I've run Chevron for years and never had a single fuel system issue. I like Techron a lot and feel it's worth the price.
Bottle additives dont do much good, IMO.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 5:15 pm to N2cars
quote:
Don't worry about the clogged injectors and premature catalytic converter failures, we dont want you to own a car anyway...
My old Lexus ES jalopy has been running on unbranded gas for 20 years. Its doing fine.
I paid $5.16 today for unbranded.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 5:33 pm to James11111
Fun fact; Lexus ES was a benchmark for DB level when Ford developed the Scorpion diesel engine for the F-250 in 2010.
Lexus ES, 35 db at highway speeds, 2011 F'250 6.7, 35 db..
Lexus ES, 35 db at highway speeds, 2011 F'250 6.7, 35 db..
This post was edited on 3/20/26 at 5:34 pm
Posted on 3/20/26 at 5:36 pm to ragincajun03
California is price gouging... they pay more than anywhere else.
Posted on 3/20/26 at 5:41 pm to SallysHuman
Because of their state government policies, primarily.
They have effectively killed O&G businesses in their state.
They have effectively killed O&G businesses in their state.
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