Posted on 08/10/2006 9:29:43 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday directed the state's energy commission to monitor gasoline prices in the wake of BP's pipeline problems in Alaska, the governor's office said.
Schwarzenegger also asked U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to make the West Coast a priority for any oil shipments from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Gasoline prices in California have been steady in most of the state since Sunday, when BP announced it was shutting about 400,000 barrels per day of production from the Prudhoe Bay oilfield on Alaska's North Slope.
The AAA motor club showed on Wednesday the average price for self-serve regular to be $3.204 per gallon, steady with its price survey report from Monday.
Schwarzenegger's office said the California Energy Commission will do the monitoring to "ensure propriety in the transportation fuels market for Californians who already pay among the highest gas prices in the nation.
"Additionally, the (energy commission) will work with California refineries to assess the potential impacts this event may have on California fuel supplies and prices."
Last year, Alaska North Slope crude oil accounted for 20 percent of oil refined in California, and BP's pipeline made up 10 percent of the total refined, commission figures show.
The California Energy Commission is already investigating whether oil companies acted fairly during a price spike of gasoline prices earlier this year.
On Monday, wholesale gasoline prices rose 8.5 cents for Los Angeles deliveries and then fell 2 cents on Tuesday.
Apparently, the majority of Kalifornians would tell you "not in my backyard". It's the same with new powerplants. I understand some Calif utility wants to build a powerplant in Arizona.
I'm still trying to think of something. ;-) (quietly)
OK
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