John Hill, executive director of the Utah Petroleum Marketers and Retailers Association, said retailers are continuing to work through expensive stockpiles stored underground at their stations.

"Even though the (wholesale price) might be 20 cents cheaper today," Hill said, "they've got to recover the cost of the product that they purchased two weeks ago that was at the higher price."

Noting the frequent inventory turnover at many gas stations, Giani said that explanation doesn't hold up. "Consumers," she said, "have had enough, and we need to try to do something about it."

Hill said it is not government's role to decide what a particular retailer should charge for a gallon of gasoline.

"That's what makes America great," Hill said. "People can make or sell something and then reap the benefits."

The governor last Friday tapped Giani and his energy adviser, Laura Nelson, to investigate why Utah's gasoline prices remain high.

---

E-mail: danderton@desnews.com