California oil refineries pocketing record profits, advocacy group says

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, says oil refineries are pocketing more money than ever in California history because of the recent spike in gas prices.

On average, Los Angeles County drivers are currently paying $4.25 per gallon for regular gas, $1.50 more than the nationwide average.

The Santa Monica-based group is now calling to change the way oil companies do business. By the oil companies own records, the group said the refineries' profits soared to levels not seen before.

Motorists in California, especially those in Southern California, are contributing to those profits by paying the highest prices at the pump in the country.

Refined fuel exports are part of the reason for higher prices, according to Consumer Watchdog.

"If [our refineries] are broken, why are we shipping fuel out of the ones that work? It doesn't make any sense," said Consumer Watchdog president Jamie Court.

To help stop the gouging, Consumer Watchdog would like a measure put on the November ballot that would establish a windfall profits tax that the oil companies would have to pay.