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04-29-09 by dugan The poor little oil companies are reporting profits that are way down, though only in comparison to the last three record-busting years of picking consumers clean at the pump. But they’re making…
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04-27-08 by dugan A retail fuel industry publication sent out this story today, making every argument it could think of against Costco’s agreement to sell gasoline that is adjusted for temperature so motorists get the…
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Check out this great video that draws a straight line between Chevron’s lavish contributions to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the dismal ballot choices for plugging the awful state budget hole. We don’t have any position…
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4-20-09 by dugan Great news–the legal paper Daily Journal (subscription barrier) said Friday that the Costco chain, already know for consumer-friendliness, agreed to eliminate the "hot fuel" ripoff at its gasoline stations. Unlike every other…
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04-15-09 by duga Oil prices are still moping around the $50 a barrel level worldwide, but that doesn’t mean major oil companies just sit around and weep. They’re making bigger profits than last year on…
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04-07-09 by dugan What OilWatchdog usually worries about is what refiners do to keep fuel prices higher than they should be, and lately I’ve been studying the paucity of real-time operational information that is available…
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04-02-09 by dugan Oil, being a commodity that people buy and consume, ought to be priced according to supply and demand. Of course, we know that’s not true. But it’s still a little surprising to…
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03-25-09 by dugan There’s no doubt that the ethanol industry is in trouble. Credit crunch, ugly recession, and roller-coaster energy prices that spook investors. The Des Moines Register has a good rundown today on cellulosic…
Press Release
Consumer Groups Seek Records of California Energy Commission On Disputed ‘Hot Fuel’ Report, After Conflict of Interest Charge Against Commissioner Santa Monica, CA — Consumer Watchdog and Public Citizen have filed a detailed request for…
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2-18-09 by dugan 2-19 update: AP update from last night says it’s definitely a lubricant oil spill from a tank on the platform, but still not fixed. Why’s that? And how long was it leaking…
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2-17-09 by dugan The motto of the oil industry is: "If you can’t haul in profit on the front end, hit the back end." OK, I just made that up . But California gasoline prices…
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2-10-09 by dugan Last night, a few hours after Consumer Watchdog and Public Citizen sent out a news release that was highly critical of the California Energy Commission (along with a letter pointing out a…
Press Release
Consumer Groups Protest California Energy Commission’s Skew to Oil Industry in ‘Hot Fuel’ Report Letter to Commissioner Heading Hot Fuel Study Cites His Clear Conflict of Interest: Spouse’s Petroleum Association Job Washington, DC — Two…
