Gas prices skyrocket to record highs in California

(Photo courtesy of Riza Nugraha on Flickr under CC license)

By ELENZ LAMBERT, Guest Writer

Gasoline prices have reached record highs during the past week across the State of California.

Governor Jerry Brown insisted on taking precautions to save the supply of fuel within the state and allow refineries to switch their gasoline to a winter blend that is typically not sold until November.

Brown hoped switching the gasoline type would help decrease the climb in prices because it evaporates more quickly than the gasoline sold in the summer season.

Last Thursday night, the gas price jumped 20 cents per gallon and prices have continued to rise ever since. The statewide average is nearly $4.66 according to the AAA (Los Angeles Times) daily fuel gauge report on Sunday.

Many people in California have been pointing fingers and blaming the refineries for raising the prices. About two months ago, a fire knocked out a 245,000-barrel-a-day refinery in the Bay Area that has still not resumed in full production.

In addition, last week, there was a power failure shortage at a refinery in Torrance, which resumed full production this past Friday. Typically gasoline prices in California are higher than most states because of the strict environmental regulations.

Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service stated a combination of factors that led to a rise in prices—regulations and geography. This is what makes the supplies in California volatile. Kloza ensured prices would not spread to the rest of the United States, just California in particular.

As prices remain high, AAA announced the national average of regular gasoline on Sunday was $ 3.81 per gallon, nearly 42 cents more than last year.