With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
About Those Painful Prices At California Gas Pumps
The price of gas on Sept. 21, 2022 when costs started to go up for the first time in almost 100 days.
(
Allison Dinner
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
Drivers in the Los Angeles area are now paying $6.45 on average for a gallon of regular — Orange and Ventura counties are nearly as pricey and Riverside and San Bernardino counties are little over $6.30 a gallon. The average price of a gallon nationwide is just under $3.80.
Ouch. What's up? Prices had been dropping much of the summer after soaring past $6 back in March. That started to changeon Sept. 21. Why? The fuel supply is currently very low due to the planned maintenance on oil refineries. How low? Anlleyn Venegas with the Automobile Club of Southern California says West Coast fuel inventories are at their lowest level in about a decade.
Why that matters: Her colleague Doug Shupe says the state doesn't have a pipeline that brings gas directly here. California relies on what's produced by local refineries or overseas imports. "This is all about supply and demand," he said. "And unfortunately, our supply in Southern California is being squeezed very tight."
Support for LAist comes from
What can be done: Consumer Watchdog's Jamie Court is calling on Governor Newsom to request a special legislative session to investigate oil refineries' monthly profits. Currently, they are not required to report California-specific profits.
He adds that oil refineries are required to report what they're making in the West. "We have five oil refiners that make 97% of the gas in the state? This is a virtual cartel," Court said. "And when a virtual cartel does this, it's not market forces. It's a cartel doing it to drive up the prices and drive up their profits. And that demands a response."
What's next: Oil refineries will have to post their monthly profits from selling gas in California starting in January. Court says California drivers will then know which companies are making big profits during the run-ups at the pump — and how much they are making.
Go deeper: Read SB 1322 on petroleum pricing.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist