The Division of Petroleum Market Oversight (DPMO) is the nation’s first independent watchdog agency overseeing the oil and gasoline industry.
DPMO was established in 2023 by Senate Bill X1-2, the California Gas Price Gouging and Transparency Law. As an independent division of the California Energy Commission (CEC), DPMO is responsible for oversight, investigations, economic analysis, and policy recommendations regarding the transportation fuels market.
Annual Reports
- October 23, 2025: DPMO released its first annual report pursuant to Senate Bill X1-2.
Market Updates
- July 2, 2026: DPMO issued a consumer advisory encouraging consumers to shop around ahead of the July 4 holiday.
- June 30, 2026: DPMO submitted a public comment to the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) regarding its methodology for West Coast refined product price assessments.
- June 12, 2026: DPMO issued a gasoline and diesel market update in light of the Middle East conflict and rising prices.
- March 19, 2026: DPMO issued an enforcement bulletin and consumer advisory in light of the Middle East conflict and rising gasoline prices.
- November 21, 2025: DPMO issued a notice to market participants to flag the enactment of Assembly Bill 325, a new law related to the use of common pricing algorithms.
- September 16, 2025: DPMO sent a gasoline market update and consumer advisory to Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders in response to rising gasoline prices and tight market conditions.
- February 14, 2025: DPMO sent a gasoline market update and consumer advisory to Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders in response to volatile market conditions.
- October 14, 2024: Governor Newsom signs Assembly Bill X2-1 into law, giving the CEC critical new regulatory authority to protect Californians from retail gasoline price spikes.
- September 13, 2024: DPMO sent a gasoline market update and consumer advisory to Governor Newsom and legislative leaders in response to volatile market conditions.
- January 31, 2024: DPMO sent a letter to Governor Newsom and legislative leaders outlining initial policy options to mitigate gasoline price spikes and bring additional transparency to the market.
- September 22, 2023: DPMO sent a letter to Governor Newsom and legislative leaders in response to volatile gasoline market conditions.
Cross-Disciplinary Team
DPMO has a cross-disciplinary team, with economists, policy experts, and enforcement attorneys that support the state’s economy and clean transportation transition.
Tai S. Milder, a former federal antitrust prosecutor, was appointed as the inaugural director of DPMO by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2023.
Division Chief Ryan McCauley, a former California Deputy Attorney General, oversees the Investigations & Industry Analysis Branch comprised of experienced prosecutors and enforcement attorneys.
Chief Economist Dr. Gigi Moreno, formerly a Senior Economist at the Southern California Association of Governments, leads DPMO’s Economics Branch, which includes two additional Ph.D. economists.
Learn more about the open positions at the CEC.