McNerney Urges Attorney General Brown to Investigate Gas Pump Accuracy

Press Release

Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11) sent a letter today to California Attorney General Jerry Brown, urging him to begin an investigation into the accuracy of gas pumps in California as consumers face record high gas prices.

An investigation in New Jersey, announced last week by the Attorney General's office in that state, found pricing discrepancies, inaccurate octane ratings and inaccurate or out-of-tolerance equipment at gas stations across the Garden State.

The text of the letter appears below.

June 24, 2008

Edmund G. Brown Jr.
Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550

Dear Attorney General Brown:

With gas prices well over $4 a gallon statewide, my constituents are feeling the squeeze at the pump. For most of us, driving isn't optional - it's essential to our daily lives. Consumers need to be able to commute to work and take the kids to school without having to make impossible choices between transportation costs and other essentials.

Last week, the Attorney General in New Jersey announced that after investigating 1,023 gas stations in that state, over 300 violations were discovered. These included pricing discrepancies, inaccurate octane ratings and inaccurate or out-of-tolerance equipment.

This means that in some cases, consumers were getting shortchanged based on the amount of gas for which they paid. Additionally, some arrived at the gas station and found inaccurate or missing octane ratings, as well as price discrepancies between what was advertised and what was charged.

It is fundamentally important that gas pumps clearly and accurately identify what octane gas is being dispensed and that the price advertised on an overhead sign or other device is what is actually charged at the pump.

I encourage you, as California's chief law officer, to initiate an immediate and aggressive investigation to ensure that gas pumps in our state are properly calibrated, dispense the correct volume of gas, and accurately reflect the type of gas and the charge for that octane level.

After all, consumers should have every confidence that they get what they pay for at the pump, especially as they are paying record high gas prices.

If I can be of any assistance in this regard, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Jerry McNerney
Member of Congress

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