State Rep. Diane Dixon, District 72 | Official U.S. House headshot
State Rep. Diane Dixon, District 72 | Official U.S. House headshot
On May 16, 2024, Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) provided a statement on the Petroleum Oversight Hearing. She voiced her concerns about the high gas prices in California and discussed her proposed legislation to address this issue.
"To provide transparency and accountability about California’s high gas prices, I introduced Assembly Bill 2912, or the GAS PRICES ACT," said Dixon. This bill would have required the California Energy Commission (CEC) to post monthly updates on their website detailing the price difference between California and the national average. It would also highlight how much this difference has decreased due to SB X1-2, the Governor’s “price gouging” law.
"Unfortunately, AB 2912 did not even get set for a committee hearing," she lamented. Dixon pointed out that an Assembly Utilities and Energy oversight hearing held recently focused specifically on impacts from SB X1-2 becoming law. "A year later we can definitively say it has not made prices better," she stated.
According to Dixon, disincentivizing oil and gas production negatively impacts oil supply and increases costs for Californians. "Unsurprisingly, Californians pay the highest gas prices and gas taxes in the nation," she noted.
"Our costs are consistently more than 50% above the national average," Dixon continued. She referenced data from CEC showing that government profits nine times more than oil companies per gallon of gas sold.
Dixon expressed further concern over an upcoming yearly gas tax increase set to take effect on July 1st. "This will ensure that $0.59 cents per gallon in taxes will go to the State of California," she said, deeming it unacceptable.
She concluded by stating: "We can do better for the hardworking and overtaxed people of California."
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