Terry Goddard Takes Steps to Address Arizona Gasoline Market Issues

(Phoenix, Ariz. – June 4, 2004)  Attorney General Terry Goddard Thursday renewed his request for a meeting with Secretary Spencer Abraham to discuss the gasoline issues affecting Arizona consumers.  Goddard requested the meeting to discuss the following issues with Abraham:

  • Formation of a task force to investigate the supply and over market gasoline pricing issues in Arizona and other Western States and prepare recommendations to address and remediate the program
  • Investigation of gasoline refining policies in the West, including the blending of “clean fuel” and the lack of storage capacity

In addition to the request to Abraham, Goddard will join Attorneys General Mark Bennett (Hawaii), Charlie Crist (Florida), and Bill Lockyer (California) in California to discuss how to address the issues surrounding the high gasoline prices residents are currently experiencing as a group.  The gasoline forum will be part of the National Association of Attorneys General summer meeting being held in Santa Monica, CA June 15-17, 2004.

Goddard is a member of the NAAG Antitrust Project - Gas Pricing Working Group, and will share Arizona’s experience over the last year as well as conclusions and recommendations documented in the Attorney General Office’s Arizona Gasoline Report.  The report includes the following recommendations:

  1. Analyze the possibility of conforming Arizona’s CBG to California’s blend
  2. Continue to promote coordination at the state and federal levels to examine gasoline markets
  3. Encourage the expansion of the gasoline pipeline system bringing gasoline into Arizona. 
  4. Determine how to increase in-state storage capacity for gasoline
  5. Continue to support the adoption of anti-gouging legislation

A copy of Goddard’s letter to Abraham is attached.  To read the gasoline report in its entirety, please visit the Arizona Attorney General’s Web site at www.azag.gov under “What’s New” and click on gasoline.