State investigates gas price gouging

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - - Most states are enjoying lower gas prices than they've seen in months, but, as of Monday, a gallon of unleaded gas in Indiana is 14 cents more expensive than the national average.

Right now, Hoosiers are paying around $3.67 a gallon, while most of the country is at $3.53.
 

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Analysts blame refinery problems, including production slowdowns or maintenance at Midwestern refineries. Most of those refineries are in Illinois.

WISH-TV spoke with Charlie Smith, CEO of the CountryMark refinery. Their refineries, he said, are operating as planned, but problems at other plants directly affect Indiana's gas prices.

Smith said places like the East Coast, for example, have more refining capacity than they can use, so they're not as affected by a closure as Midwesterners are.

"I worry when we're north of $3," Smith said. "North of $3 is not good for our economy. It's not good for our workers. It's not good for the communities we live in. And long-term it's not good for our industry."

The Indiana attorney general's office is also looking at the high prices, making sure Hoosiers aren't being illegally gouged.

Attorney General Greg Zoeller agrees that prices spiked because an Illinois refinery closed for maintenance. But it's unclear why a refinery would close during peak driving season, especially with the Fourth of July about two weeks away.

Zoeller said his office has received dozens of gas-price complaints this month.

If you have a complaint, you can call his office at 1-866-241-9753.