Has enough range to get to Yuma, Arizona in one tank. Then you can just cruise on up with the fuel you get there.
Posted on 10/04/2012 4:41:12 PM PDT by BenLurkin
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A record spike in gas prices has left several independent stations around the Southland — and one major wholesaler — with empty gas pumps.
One Costco station in Simi Valley reportedly ran out of regular unleaded and was forced to sell its premium gas at the regular price, which is currently at an average of $4.34 per gallon – after a near 9-cent increase overnight and its largest daily increase ever of 9.5 cents on Thursday.
Smaller stations like the Low-P in Calabasas cut off sales of unleaded fuel on Oct. 2 before running out of its higher-octane products on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg.
The wholesale price stations pay for gasoline has risen by as much as 73 cents in some markets over the last week.
Bob Van der Valk, an independent petroleum industry analyst in Montana, told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO the shortage is likely due to a seasonal transition.
“Right now, gas stations are trying to wean out what they have of the summer blend,” said Van der Valk. “There is absolutely none available.”
Refineries are now making what analysts call the “winter blend,” which burns cleaner at cooler temperatures. California “summer blend” fuel requirements remain in effect through the end of October.
Van der Valk also pointed to the refinery fire in Richmond in September and a power failure at the Exxon refinery in Torrance that have adversely affected the supply of crude oil.
“Costco just ran out of gasoline even though they’re being supplied by Chevron,” he said. “Apparently, they have a limit on that, and then they’ll buy on the open market at whatever price they can get.”
KNX 1070′s Pete Demetriou reports one analysts expects prices to break the state’s all-time high for regular gas prices at $4.61 a gallon back on June 19, 2008.
“You might wanna set sail for Dominica or something, because you’re gonna see prices that are reminiscent of what you see in the Mediterranean or what you see in Caribbean islands,” said Tom Kloza, chief analyst at the Oil Price Information Service.
I wonder why that was? Is there some crazy Calif law that says you HAVE to sell regular?
Obama’s Fault!
Boutique blending strikes again. Obama can waive this in a second. He won’t.
I just paid 4.49 per gallon today and I live in California.
The price at the same station 2 days ago was $4.22 per gallon and this for regular not premium.
That thing about station owners cutting back?? The article's writer needs to get real.
Nah, it’s just a customer service issue. Telling a customer that you’re out of the less expensive stuff but that they can still buy the more expensive option never goes over well. Costco would rather take a small loss—probably no more than 3 or 4 of bucks per customer— than face a lot of angry customers, yelling at the attendants, tying up the line, and never shopping there again. This way, then even get a bit of goodwill out of it when the customer understands they’re getting more than what they paid for.
Yet kalifornia is a lock for the kenyan - Amazing!
Your co-workers should be aware that, in its wisdom, the state of California has more stringent (and complex) blending requirements than any other state.
So, during the seasonal change-overs, if California refineries are over-taxed, marketers cannot import gasoline from any other state.
Of course, it is so much more important that Greenies have their "pristine air" than Californians be able to go to work...
/sig
Good.
I love to see California getting a good dose of what they have so richly earned.
I hope it doesn’t affect your life. That would be terrible.
It sure would not help the communists/watermelons at the polls to run Jimmah Carter gas shorages. Then again, California’s one and only propaganda public voice would blame the oil compainies and the dummy voters would beleive it.
Yes, and it is even bigger than that now, nationwide the greenies use lawyers to paralyze and proposed all projects. Can’t use nuclear, can’t burn coal, can’t build refineries, can’t drill, can’t frack, etc.
The solution is to burn the greenies for heat until they are gone. Properly dried they can make combustible biomass for the furnace.
California, don’t you just love it when a plan comes together. They did it to themselves.
See post 10...the state is on the hook on this one.
And be advised that the crap they pump is only good for about thirty days (less in some cases) without user provided additives.
Consider that in any SHTF situation.
Where I live in Kentucky, the price had been steadily decreasing a few months ago and finally hit $2.99. I woke up the next morning and the cheapest price around was $3.29.
A similar thing happened a month or so later, but it was only $.20 increase. I say “only” with tongue planted firmly in cheek.
“California, don’t you just love it when a plan comes together. They did it to themselves.”
Could not have come at a better moment...people will (apparently) put up with a lot until their ability to earn a living and feed their families is screwed with.
Has enough range to get to Yuma, Arizona in one tank. Then you can just cruise on up with the fuel you get there.
Outside of the border areas NH is a rather low wage State. People earn $40k or Less, Gas is $3.80, Heating Oil is $3.50 it gets cold up here, food is going through the roof, how do you like that hope and change.
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