Groups Charge That Hot Diesel and Gasoline Motor Fuel Add Up to Less Energy and Big Consumer Fraud
Audio News Conference Rescheduled for Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006 Big Oil Overcharges Consumers for Overheated Fuel and Pockets Taxes Paid by Consumers What: Public Citizen and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) are announcing their support for truck drivers and individuals who are filing a complaint against Alon USA, Inc., Ambest, Inc., Chevron USA, Inc., Circle K Corporation, Citgo Petroleum Corporation, ConocoPhillips, Flying J. Inc., Petro Stopping Centers, Pilot Travel Centers LLC, 7-Eleven Corporation, Shell Oil Products Company, Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company, The Kroger Company, TravelCenters of America, Inc., Valero Marketing and Supply Company and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. These groups will hold an audio news conference on the need for the courts and Congress to protect U.S. consumers against the industry-wide practice of hot fuel overcharges. When: Thursday, December 14, 2006 12:00 PM Noon EST Where: Please register to participate in the call by sending an e-mail to lindabparis@yahoo.com, joy@cambridgestrategicpartners.org, or rpleatman@citizen.org. Who: Joan Claybrook, president, Public Citizen John Siebert, project manager, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Foundation (OOIDA) Mark and Becky Rushing, owner-operator truck drivers Why: As outside temperatures rise, liquid motor fuel expands. But U.S. gas stations do not adjust their measurements at the pump to take into account the change of temperature. Consequently, consumers receive less energy when they purchase gas heated above the 60 degree standard. That means consumers pay more for the same energy when the outside temperature is higher because they get less energy per gallon purchased. By one account, consumers who buy hot fuel in the U.S. lose more than 2 billion dollars each year. Their loss is the oil industry's gain. In Canada, the industry successfully lobbied for temperature correction equipment for pumps that dispense gasoline and diesel fuel so it would not lose money on cold fuel. The U.S. armed services also receive temperature-adjusted fuel. Fuel is adjusted for temperature all along the distribution line except at the end point, when it is delivered to individual consumers.
PRNewswire -- Dec. 14