California begins rulemaking process for gas price gouging law
AND SHE JOINS US NOW TO TALK US THROUGH TODAY’S ACTION. GORLESTON AND LISA, THIS WAS A PRE RULEMAKING WORKSHOP, MEANING NO VOTES OR DECISIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN TODAY BY THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION. THIS IS THE FIRST OF THREE THE COMMISSION IS HOSTING TO COME UP WITH RULES WITH HOW EXACTLY THAT GAS PRICE LAW WILL WORK. AS WE REPORTED BACK IN MARCH, LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR PASSED A LAW THAT GIVES THE ENERGY COMMISSION THE POWER TO PUNISH OIL REFINERS WHEN THEY MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY OFF OF CALIFORNIA DRIVERS. THE LAW CREATED A NEW WATCHDOG GROUP WITHIN THE ENERGY COMMISSION TO GATHER PRIVATE BUSINESS INFORMATION AND DATA FROM REFINERS TO CONSIDER WHETHER TO SET A CAP ON OIL REFINER PROFITS AND CONSIDER POTENTIALLY PENALIZING THEM WHEN THEY MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY. SO TODAY’S WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON RULES AROUND DATA COLLECTION AND ALSO RULES AROUND WHEN COMPANIES CAN DO REFINERY MAINTENANCE. TODAY, THERE WAS NOT A DISCUSSION AROUND THE PENALTY, THOUGH. STATE LEADERS SAY THESE MEETINGS ARE AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP FOR THE FIRST IN THE NATION LAW. AS THE U.S. GOES INTO THIS VERY IMPORTANT WORK, WHICH IS AIMED AT PROTECTING THE CONSUMERS OF CALIFORNIA WITH EARNEST AND DELIBERATE PROCESS THAT ALLOWS FOR AN OPEN, TRANSPARENT CONVERSATION TO REALLY LOOK AT THE VARIOUS FRAMEWORKS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR US TO RESULT IN AN OUTCOME THAT ULTIMATELY SUPPORTS THE PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS OF CALIFORNIA, THE WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION, WHICH REPRESENTS REFINERS, HAS BEEN FIGHTING THIS LAW. IN A STATEMENT, A SPOKESPERSON SAID, QUOTE, THE STATE ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL REFINERY MAINTENANCE IS ADDRESSING A SYMPTOM INSTEAD OF FIXING THE REAL PROBLEM, WHICH IS THE STATE CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SUPPLY OF TRANSPORTATION FUELS. MAINTENANCE OF REFINERIES USUALLY REQUIRES YEARS OF PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF LOGISTICS, LABOR EQUIPMENT AND INVENTORIES, TELLING OUR INDUSTRY OR ANY OTHER WHEN REPAIRS AND UPGRADES CAN OR CANNOT BE MADE COMPROMISES. EMPLOYEE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY, END QUOTE. SO FROM THESE WORKSHOPS, THE ENERGY COMMISSION WILL CONTINUE TO DISCUSS WITH KEY GROUPS ON THE PROPOSED RULES. THE PROPOSED BILL WILL THEN OFFICIALLY BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC IN MAY FOR PUBLIC REVIEW, AND THEN THEY WOULD GO INTO EFFECT WITH A TARGET DATE OF ABOUT JULY OF 2024. BACK TO YOU. YEAH, STILL A LOT TO GET THROUGH. ASHLEY, THANKS FOR THAT. WELL, THE NEXT TWO WORKSHOPS, BY THE WAY, ARE SCHEDULED ONE FOR LATER TH
California regulators on Friday kicked off a series of meetings around a new law that state leaders have said is meant to protect consumers from being price gouged at the gas pump. The California Energy Commission held its first of three pre-rulemaking workshops to figure out how exactly the law will be implemented. In March, California lawmakers and the governor passed a law that gives the commission the power to consider punishing oil refiners when they make too much money off of California drivers. The law created and empowered a new watchdog group within the commission to gather private business information and data from refiners to consider whether to set a cap and potential penalty on company profits.Friday's workshop focused on rules around how exactly the commission will collect data from refiners and set rules around refinery maintenance, but no discussion on the potential penalty.Commissioners said Friday was an important first step for the first-in-the-nation law."The CEC goes into this very important work, which is aimed at protecting the consumers of California with an earnest and deliberate process that allows for an open transparent conversation to really look at the various frameworks that are available to us that will result in an outcome that ultimately supports the protection of consumers in California," Commissioner Siva Gunda said.The Western States Petroleum Association, which represents refiners, tried to fight the legislation that created the law. In a statement, a spokesman for the association said: "The state attempting to control refinery maintenance is addressing a symptom instead of fixing the real problem, which is the state continuing to implement policies that negatively impact the supply of transportation fuels. Maintenance of refineries usually requires years of planning and coordination of logistics, labor, equipment, and inventories. Telling our industry, or any other, when repairs and upgrades can or can't be made compromises employee and community safety."The commission plans to have the proposed rules ready for public review in May, with a deadline to enact the new rules by July of 2024.
California regulators on Friday kicked off a series of meetings around a new law that state leaders have said is meant to protect consumers from being price gouged at the gas pump.
The California Energy Commission held its first of three pre-rulemaking workshops to figure out how exactly the law will be implemented.
In March, California lawmakers and the governor passed a law that gives the commission the power to consider punishing oil refiners when they make too much money off of California drivers. The law created and empowered a new watchdog group within the commission to gather private business information and data from refiners to consider whether to set a cap and potential penalty on company profits.
Friday's workshop focused on rules around how exactly the commission will collect data from refiners and set rules around refinery maintenance, but no discussion on the potential penalty.
Commissioners said Friday was an important first step for the first-in-the-nation law.
"The CEC goes into this very important work, which is aimed at protecting the consumers of California with an earnest and deliberate process that allows for an open transparent conversation to really look at the various frameworks that are available to us that will result in an outcome that ultimately supports the protection of consumers in California," Commissioner Siva Gunda said.
The Western States Petroleum Association, which represents refiners, tried to fight the legislation that created the law. In a statement, a spokesman for the association said:
"The state attempting to control refinery maintenance is addressing a symptom instead of fixing the real problem, which is the state continuing to implement policies that negatively impact the supply of transportation fuels. Maintenance of refineries usually requires years of planning and coordination of logistics, labor, equipment, and inventories. Telling our industry, or any other, when repairs and upgrades can or can't be made compromises employee and community safety."
The commission plans to have the proposed rules ready for public review in May, with a deadline to enact the new rules by July of 2024.
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