🚀 go-pugleaf

Claude D. Bilbo wrote in message
<370c272f.93438739@news.bham.mindspring.com>...
>
><SNIP>
>>justification for this.  San Diegans traditionally have paid more than
most
>>places in the state: the reason given is the costs associated with
>>transporting fuel to us.
><SNIP>
>
>Well, just how true is that?  Do you not have any oil refineries near San
>Diego?  If so, then that's the price you have to pay for not having it in
>your back yard.

The second largest refinery, along with several others, are located a mere
sixty seven miles from the San Diego pertroleum tank farm (the city of
Wilmington and surrounding communities, just north of Long Beach, and
further south of Los Angeles).  With the creation of new freeways, the drive
is even less than that.  A number of oil companies have their drivers make
two runs to San Diego, commencing in the early morning hours.  More
importantly, these same refineries supply 99% of Southern California, a
number of cities even farther away than San Diego.  I find it pretty
interesting that some cities in the Los Angeles area are even farther from
the refineries than San Diego, yet they are not hit for the so called
"transportation fee."  Gas in San Diego is considerably higher than in Los
Angeles, and the prices here are either the highest or just second behind
the Bay Area.

  Also, it would be interesting to know what percentage of
>the gas price is tax.  Add to that the cost of complying with California
>regulations.

The federal gas tax and the state gas tax are the same for California and
Alabama; 18.4 cents cents federal, and 18 cents, state.  The gas additives
required by California law for "cleaner burning fuel" amount to only 5 to 15
cents, that price according to the major oil companies.  California does
have a state sales tax of 7.75%, and most counties toss in another 2.5% or
more; nonetheless, that does not add up to the discrepancy in the price of a
gallon of gas in B'ham and San Diego, or else where.  I read where the price
in some places in B'ham is less than a dollar, about 1.05.  Average for
"branded" regular unleaded, 1.49, this week in San Diego.

  California is infamous for raising its own regulations above
>and beyond those of the federal government.  Is the attendant at the gas
>station required to provide you with a Material Data Safety Sheet?


Other issues affecting gas prices in San Diego: a number of gas stations are
owned by gas companies, decreasing competition and controlling the pricing.
The SD County Board of Supervisors attempted to pass an ordinance
prohibiting future stations from being owned by gas companies, however, it
failed.  All of the gas companies establish zone prices to maximize their
market potential and exert control over the prices set by the franchisee.
Regardless of what competitors may be doing, dealers either charge the
prices set by the company, or face penalties on their income or quantities.
I worked as a market analyst for an oil company for a year.  In setting
prices, they took into account things like the public transportation system
and its efficiency and ridership - pretty low in San Diego; the tourism
'factor" of a given area; per capita income; and the attitude of the local
governing body.  In San Diego, we saw a brief respite from high prices after
government bodies conducted hearings on gas prices.  Since most local
authorities cannot regulate the oil companies, company execs did not show up
in some instances; in other instances, they could not justify or explain
their pricing.

Nope, the attendant doesn't give you a Materials Data Safety Sheet.  If you
want one, you have to contact the oil company and have them mail you one, or
contact the state Energy Commission.

There are a couple of web sites that speak to the issue of San Diego/LA gas
prices:

http://www.ucan.org/ucan/gas/paper/   this report talked about the price
difference as early as last year.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ap/washington/story.html?s=v/ap/1999040
1/pl/gas_prices_1.html

This one talks about gas prices by region and provides a "weighted average
price."

To ABG: I apologize for taking up so much bandwidth, and I don't mean to
start the endless posting of websites.