Price of gas hits lowest point in nearly 5 years; still highest in Alaska
Published Sunday, December 21, 2008
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Stumble It!CAMARILLO, Calif. -- The average national price of gasoline fell 9 cents in the past two weeks, bringing it to its lowest point in nearly five years, according to a national survey released Sunday.
The average price of regular gasoline Friday was $1.66 a gallon, oil industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said. The price of mid-grade was $1.80 a gallon and the price of premium was $1.92 a gallon.
The last time gas prices dipped so low was in February 2004, Lundberg said, when the national average for regular was also around $1.66 a gallon. The all-time high was on July 11, 2008, when the price peaked at $4.11 a gallon.
Of cities surveyed, the nation's lowest price was $1.37 in Cheyenne, Wyo. The highest price was $2.41 in Anchorage, Alaska. In the continental United States, the highest price was on New York's Long Island, at $1.92.
The Lundberg Survey does not look at Alaska gas prices outside of the Anchorage metropolitan area.
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Ahh yes still getting screwed at the pumps here in alaska gotta love it. I cant believe we are higher than Hawaii. Oh well nothing has been done and nothing will wonder what ever came of the investigation. Guess jay got re-elected so he dont give a damn anymore.
What do you expect? The legislative committee that was looking into our gas prices has already publicly stated that they are not going to do anything. Meanwhile, the refinery is looking to make as much money as possible before they wholesale the whole operation.
If only we had a supplier to bring in fuel from Washington and offer the refineries some competition.
I wonder how much of this is a reaction to the $1200 rebate we all got this year? I guess the refinery and the retailers figure that's their money and they are going to get it from us one way or another. I can't believe I am paying .50 a gallon less for heating oil than I am for gasoline. We are being ripped off. It is nothing more than legalized theft and our state government is standing by and letting it happen. It is absolutely sickening. Remember this when elections come around again. NO INCUMBENTS!!! We need all new blood.
It is just amazing how the cost of food has sky rocketed in the past year and no one has complained. Sorry day when one store is selling Lady pink apples for $1.18 a piece. Your food bill increases is probably much higher than gas and yet it does not seem to bug people as much as gas.
Let's get with the program Alaska! $2.00 per gallon here will be a bargain; we need lower gas NOW!
I wrote Ramras and the below is what a member of his staff returned. As you can see, it doesn't seem to be a very high priority with him.
The blame largely lies with the public. You read the toad like and ignorant responses in these comment sections and it isn't hard to understand why the pols tell you to enjoy it and buy your own vaseline.
If they don't convince you, the re-election of Mike Kelly should.
dog
Dear Mr. [redacted]:
Last fall, House Speaker John Harris commissioned Representative Ramras to investigate the gas pricing situation. Since then, there have been various hearings held, one each month, with the last hearing to be held on January 14. A report will be drafted and given to the Legislature. This report will contain various recommendations for the upcoming legislative session. We have also taken input from the public at these hearings. There are many factors in play, some of which include: the lack of ability to make a gallon and a quarter of fuel from one gallon of crude oil. We are the only state that cannot tolerate some of the additives because of the severe cold (remember when it was introduced about 10-15 years ago and many people were sick from the fumes?), there are only two companies that supply product, creating a duopoly, we are a very small market and, as you know from Costco or Sam's Club, the more bulk fuel that can be sold, the lower the price. These are just a few items that were brought up during the hearings. The process is still ongoing.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Brown,
Does anyone know if Alaska’s current oil prices are linked to Governor Palin’s rhetoric about “taking on the big oil companies” during the presidential election? I am not suggesting it is, but two years ago Alaska’s fuel prices were considerably less than most of the lower 48. Fast forward 2 years and Alaska has far and away the highest prices. It would be sadly ironic if Governor Palin’s self-proclaimed strongest “accomplishment” to support her candidacy for the vice presidency actually caused hardship for the people of Alaska.
Yeah, don't look an oil representative in the eye of oil production. I'm sure Alaska oil reps had their own interpretation of Sarah Palin's oil "negotiation".
Sure am glad we received the rebate to cover the expense. It's as though we don't live in a oil rich state of something.
I think Galena is still $7.00 for a gallon of gas and $6.60 for a gallon of heating oil.
I've been in Trinidad all this month and fuel here is .40 cents a gallon for diesel and .60 a gallon for gasoline. Folks here are concerned over food prices because the food prices here have increased 40% whereas fuel has remained a constant. Small country with a refinery that doesn't export I suppose.................kinda sounds like us minus the fuel price hike, huh?
What are you kidding me? Anchorage prices are less than Fairbanks. We are getting screwed no matter which way you look at it. $2.47 per gallon today, without grocery store discounts. And the villages are way beyond getting the shaft. God forbid - we should take care of our own.
The US average today is $1.45, adjusted for state taxes. Washington State is $1.54 with 28 cents state tax. At today's price the refinery is making one of the largest margins in history. $30 a barrel / 42g. per barrel = 71 cents + .18 federal tax = .89 cents. The lowest price today is $2.43 a gallon. That's a markup of $65 a barrel compared to the lower 48 refineries where the margin is around $10 a barrel!
I am not surprised-----most of the political machine in Alaska is owned by the oil companies--do you really think any fault on the oil companies could be found in Alaska??
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We export 700,000 of barrels of oil a day. Much of it is refined outside and then many of us pay for it to be shipped back to Alaska. We are paying $6.31 a gallon for gasoline. $6.37 a gallon for heating oil. We are stuck with these prices until the next fuel barge comes in this spring. We don't know what that price will be. Spot prices for gasoline is $1.00 a gallon. Spot price for heating fuel is $1.40 a gallon. I hope the legislature can take the price disparity out of our fuel costs. We need to cap fuel costs for Alaskans or all of us will go broke. We do need some attention paid to this very serious problem.
That is not correct. Alaska is one of the ONLY states that produces 100% of its own oil. There is zero logic in shipping oil back to a state that has 6 refineries. Alaska ships off the left over byproducts from refining for further use in the lower 48.
They are paying a minimum of $2.99 a gallon in Healy, AK.
Quit screwing us,it's the Holiday Season!You A-Holes(Whoever YOU may be)
"we are a very small market and, as you know from Costco or Sam's Club, the more bulk fuel that can be sold, the lower the price."
Have you ever been to Cheyenne Wyoming? Not exactly your biggest populace.
This is just another ploy to pull the wool over your eyes.... Again.
Right now heating oil is cheaper than wood. You can get 100g. of heating oil for $200 now. In BTU's that is equal to 1 cord of dry spruce or 1.5 cords of dry birch. Unless your stove is 87% efficient like most boilers then the usable BTU's is probably less for wood. I'm still seeing firewood prices like heating oil was $4 a gallon.
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