California gas prices to soar this week

[KeepItReal]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

The price at the pump has already begun creeping up in recent days, and it may soar this week as much as 30 cents a gallon in the Bay Area and 50 cents in Southern California as refinery issues and a lack of imported crude oil slam the Golden State.

That means the average cost of regular gas will soon exceed $4 a gallon in the Southland and get uncomfortably close to that mark in the Bay Area.

The $2.76 average across the country is a whopping 83 cents less than in California. Usually the gap is in the 20-30-cent range.

The U.S. Department of Energy says the world remains "massively oversupplied." American drivers paid the lowest price for July 4 travel since 2010, saving 90 cents a gallon.

California drivers have also enjoyed lower gas prices than in years past. But state supplies are now at a 12-month low, and federal energy officials say California refiners had to use 1.1 million barrels from their storage tanks. It's so bleak that imports to the West Coast sank to zero last week after averaging more than 100,000 barrels a day over the previous four weeks.

Los Angeles $3.55* $3.79
San Diego $3.54 $3.75
San Francisco $3.52 $3.58
Bakersfield $3.47 $3.57
Vallejo $3.41 $3.50
Oakland $3.39 $3.48
San Jose $3.36 $3.46
Santa Cruz $3.32 $3.38

California $3.43 $3.59

United States $2.76 $2.76

* Average price for a gallon of regular gas.

AAA

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_28470729/california-gas-prices-soar-this-week

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California is not on a fraking island!

And these people want to pass laws allowing EXPORTS OF AMERICAN OIL.

How is this any different from Enron's energy division withholding electric capacity to drive up California utility rates back in the day?

[Wellstone ruled]

1. As forcasted by the CEO of Shell Oil

during a Bloomberg interview this passed week. Gee,you think this might be a rigged market?

[GReedDiamond]

2. The excuse I always hear, here in CA...

...is California has a special, "environmentally friendlier" blend of gas than the rest of the Country, so it costs more to produce, and more at the pump.

Add to that a (manufactured?) shortage at the refineries, or whatever the problem is claimed to be, and we in CA are fucked.

The Enron comparison is not out of line, IMO.

[NV Whino]

3. I'm near San Luis Obispo right now

Filled up when I got in from NoCal, which was about $3.59. Two days later it was $4.45. Whoa! Glad I filled up earlier for the drive home.

[SoapBox]

4. Rip off!

This is a scam...scumbag crooks.

[PatrickforO]

5. See this is the thing that upsets me about the Keystone Pipeline.

I always had mixed feelings about it, but OK there will be a few construction jobs for awhile and then a few jobs monitoring the flow, making repairs, cleaning up spills, etc. OK.

But then I saw oil executives testifying before Congress.

The question was, "If we let you build this pipeline, will you use the oil that comes out at New Orleans to make America less dependent on foreign oil?"

The answer.

No.

They are gonna sell the oil to the highest bidder because they don't give a damn about this country. Their colors are NOT red white and blue, but money green.

So now Californians are getting the double whammy - rationed water and high priced gas. But wages no higher.

Wonder how much longer before people wake up the Occupy movement and begin demonstrating in the streets?

[bluestateguy]

6. These are the circumstances that warrant a release of oil from the SPR

States like California deserve to be helped.

[Igel]

9. Back in April this was in the news.

There was a price increase then, too.

Two reasons were given: problems at refineries (maintenance, labor issues, and a fire or some other mechanical problem); special blend required, so California gas is made in California.

A third was pointed out as a real possibility. California requires lighter crude because it produces less pollution, and that comes from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, taking longer to get there. Alaska and Canadian crude is heavier and creates more pollution, so refineries avoid it. If a few ships were rerouted from California elsewhere, if they were delayed, you'd have a supply interruption. Bakken crude would be good, but California makes shipping crude by rail and truck difficult and there aren't pipelines to get the crude from where it is to where it needs to go. Mexican crude has been declining and even changes to PEMEX in the last few years haven't reversed the decline (yet?).

Any state in the US has equal claim on being helped. Unless the goal of power is to just help those you like, in which case let's all aspire to be 3rd world.

[AZ Progressive]

7. The price you pay to live in California...

[Yupster]

11. I was in Oklahoma the last few days

Filled up twice -- $ 2.41 and $ 2.42.

[Comrade Grumpy]

8. My local station in Sonoma County is still dropping, at $3.29 today. I'm gonna fill up tonight.

[Plucketeer]

10. Swindlers

If a FLY farts near a California refinery, the executives at that refinery declare an emergency and shut down operations until gas prices rise enough for them to bring it back on line. And just so you know - NO flies are ever harmed for initiating these phony panics. Indeed, pans of cooked beans are set out for the critters as a show of gratitude.

[Stuart G]

12. I wonder????Could this have anything to do with California Politics...??

In Illinois, I noticed for some reason, people in Chicago, pay more for gas than the rest of the state..Now..Chicago is pretty close to a number of ...refineries...but there is a very famous politician from our area..used to be Senator, but got to a higher office..The oil execs in Indiana..and south of Chicago..wouldn't do that on purpose...would they?..:..

California has a reputation for being ....Democratic....the oil execs there wouldn't do the same thing..

.Would they?..

[former9thward]

13. As a former resident of Chicago,

Chicago pays more because of higher taxes in Chicago. And it costs business more money to do business in Chicago than elsewhere. CA also has higher taxes. I live in AZ and take driving trips to Portland every so often. I no longer go through CA to get to OR. It is just too expensive.

[MurrayDelph]

14. The same gas station in the San Fernando Valley

(Costco Northridge), that I gassed up at last Sunday morning, is now 30¢/gallon more today.


Surprising, because usually the prices go up just before I have to drive to LA from northern Oregon, and don't go back down until after I get back.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

15. Strangely, diesel has been the cheapest

For years it's been the highest gas, higher than premium. I was told that diesel was harder to produce and therefore the cost is naturally higher. Now it's the lowest. I think we're being bullshitted to by the gasoline companies.

[24601]

16. Filled-up Regular Unleaded in the Tampa area this morning (Sunday/12 Jul) for $2.45/gal. n/t

[Beaverhausen]

17. Here in Burbank it went up over 50 cents in the last two days

It was steadily going down then BAM!!! WTF?

[fredamae]

18. GA$$$$ - It Is The Entire West Coast

CA - has it the Worst!

http://www.oregongasprices.com/Prices_Nationally.aspx

Time to park the car.