If it feels like filling up your tank in Santa Clarita is getting more expensive by the week, you’re not imagining it.

Gas prices across California are once again climbing toward the $6 mark, with the statewide average sitting at $5.831 for regular, $6.069 for mid-grade and $6.259 for premium, according to AAA. Diesel prices are even higher, averaging $7.072 per gallon, according to AAA.

Gas inflation in Santa Clarita (Sophia lesseos KHTS)

Here in the Santa Clarita Valley, drivers are seeing similar numbers at the pump, with prices ranging from about $5.63 at Conserv Fuel to just over $6.09 at Chevron, based on local station listings.

So what’s driving the spike? It comes down to a mix of California-specific rules and larger global pressures.

Here are four main reasons gas prices are higher in California:

1. Higher taxes add up quickly

California drivers pay some of the highest fuel taxes in the country, about $0.90 per gallon when combining state, local and federal taxes, and an additional 2.25% sales tax on gasoline, plus applicable district taxes, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Gas inflation in Santa Clarita (Sophia lesseos KHTS)

2. Cleaner fuel costs more to produce

The state requires a special cleaner-burning gasoline blend that’s more expensive to make and limits where fuel can be imported from, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. On top of that, environmental programs aimed at cutting emissions can add about $0.54 per gallon, according to the California Energy Commission.

3. Limited supply and refinery issues

The state’s Cap-and-Trade Program and Low Carbon Fuel Standard reflect costs associated with fuel supplier emissions and carbon intensity, and these costs are ultimately reflected in the price consumers pay at the pump. California is more isolated than other states when it comes to fuel supply, relying heavily on in-state refineries due to limited pipeline connections, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. When those refineries go offline for maintenance or run into issues, prices can spike quickly. 

Gas inflation in Santa Clarita (Sophia lesseos KHTS)

4. Global oil prices are rising

Tensions involving Iran and America – a critical route for global oil shipments – have pushed oil prices higher worldwide, which impacts what drivers pay locally, according to an NBC report. The national average recently climbed to around $3.84 per gallon, while California is nearing $6, according to AAA.

All of these factors combined are hitting drivers hard, especially in communities like Santa Clarita where long commutes down to the City of Los Angeles is common.

Gas inflation in Santa Clarita (Sophia lesseos KHTS)

Economists estimate the average household could spend about $740 more on gas this year due to rising oil prices, according to the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.

To find the cheapest gas in Santa Clarita, click HERE.

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