Despite drop, Utah has 5th highest gas prices
State's Commerce Department unable to pinpoint reasons why
On Tuesday, the average price in Utah was $3.44, 78 cents lower than the highest price of $4.22 on July 18, but higher than the national average price Tuesday of $3.16, according to AAA.
Heidi Bean of West Valley City filled up her midsize sedan for $50 Tuesday, an $18 decrease from higher prices in the summer. Lower gas prices are a relief for Bean, who fills up two or three times a week. "I drive a ton," she said. "I clean homes, so I drive from house to house."
Over the summer, Bean raised the price of her house-cleaning services to help absorb the overall inflation increases, but she opted against adding a fuel surcharge, for fear of losing customers. When the economy tanks, "housekeeping is the first to go" from a family's budget, she said.
Despite the lower prices Tuesday, Bean was not happy that they remain among the highest in the country. "I'd like us to be average," she said.
Part of the reason for declining gas prices is that global oil prices are decreasing. Light, sweet crude for November delivery closed at $78.63 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange on Tuesday.
But it's hard to pinpoint exactly why Utah's gas prices remain so high in comparison with the rest of the country. In mid-August, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. ordered state agencies to "monitor and analyze" the situation.
"All we were told was to just take a look at the prices, which we did," said Francine Giani, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce. "As we were doing that, the prices were starting to come down, although very slowly. We tend to come up quickly and come down slowly."
Since Giani wasn't asked to conduct a full-blown investigation, she didn't look at gas prices over time. A government-records request by the Deseret News to her office shows that oil refineries and retailers have refused to release information to her in recent years, claiming they did not want to reveal proprietary information.
The Commerce Department cannot subpoena people or records. "The attorney general could do that under an anti-trust investigation, but that's not part of our purview," Giani said.
The Utah Attorney General's Office is not working on any anti-trust case involving gasoline prices, said Tony Patterson, an assistant attorney general.
"We would have to have some type of report that individuals or companies are meeting together and are entering into some type of agreement to artificially inflate the price of fuel," he said. "And if that was occurring, who would have access to that conversation, who would actually report it to the state?"
Recent comments
Everyone is missing something here. The media and the Utah goverment...
Sick of it!! | Oct. 17, 2008 at 10:24 a.m.
The oil companies realized that they only have until the election to...
34 mpg | Oct. 16, 2008 at 5:26 p.m.
Some other points for interested parties: there are the matters of...
John | Oct. 16, 2008 at 1:48 p.m.
- Death near Rockville suspicious 7:46 p.m.
- Attempted murder case refiled 7:46 p.m.
- Family Fun Day kick off Days of '47 7:42 p.m.
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal 7:25 p.m.
- 'Drop Dead Diva' is frothy fun 6:14 p.m.
- Vail's mountain cross inspiring 6:14 p.m.
- Bishop on a mission 6:14 p.m.
- Look for face of God in others 6:14 p.m.
- Religion briefs 6:14 p.m.
- Teachings on adultery after Sanford 6:14 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Letters: Palin mistreated
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - LDS seminary principal arrested
125 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
92 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
By now you've probably read about the investigation that showed just how...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
This is a tragedy. I don't understand how this could've been going on for 2...
Was impressed with Gay's run today; can't wait for world championships to...
Pratty Was more than a father to me. I looked up to him so much. He made me...
Love you Millie, but you are not worth that much. If the Jazz match this...
If the Jazz want to get better and not be a so so team every year, it has to...
Fedor is right. I loved Millsap and don't blame him at all for signing the...
For those of you who are advocating that the Jazz let Milsap walk cause the...
Go get Drew Gooden who is unrestricted, and will be a better fit for a backup...
Longing for world championships to start. Gay/Bolt/Powell matchup will be the...
The contract offered to Milsap is similar to the original one the Jazz gave...



