Consumer watchdog group want investigations against Tesoro, Exxon

Consumer advocates have called on authorities to investigate Tesoro and Exxon because both companies, which have refineries that operate in the California region, separately reported shutdowns earlier in February leading to fuel price hikes in part of California.

According to a press release, consumer advocates Liza Tucker and Cody Rosenfield have asked state authorities that not just should country authorities inspect the refineries to determine if the shutdowns were justified but there should be legislation in place to ensure independent, on site refinery investigations whenever a shutdown occurs.

Tesoro shut down its Martinez refinery on February 6. Exxon shut its refinery in Torrance on February 16. Since February 6, gas prices have jumped 27 cents a gallon in California, while the US average has jumped only a dime a gallon, according to the advocates.

The refineries claimed that the shutdowns were caused by safety concerns during a steelworkers' strike and by a mechanical failure, respectively.