Gasoline prices at the pump in California rose from under $2.00 a gallon at the beginning of the year to an all-time high average of $3.06 a gallon in September. At one point, retail prices jumped more than 28-cents in one week. A number of factors led to the price increases this summer, from a power outage that affected Los Angeles-area refineries to damage to the Gulf Coast's refineries and oil rigs following the disastrous Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Concerned about possible price gouging and anti-competitive behavior in the oil industry, Energy Commission Chairman Desmond called for a report of this summer's events.

The report, 2005 Gasoline Price Movements in California - Staff Report (PDF file, 44 pages, 1.6 megabytes, Publication # CEC-600-2005-035), is available on-line along with Chairman Desmond's on-line presentation. The Chairman will answer reporters' questions on gasoline and diesel prices in the state. The meeting will be recorded and available on the Energy Commission's Web site: www.energy.ca.gov/consumerfuels

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