The news OPEC will cut oil production by 2-million barrels a day comes at a time Washington’s gas prices continue to climb.
The price of crude does affect gas prices even though Washington doesn’t import oil from OPEC nations because oil prices are set by supply and demand in the global market, but Kelly Just with AAA Washington tells Northwest Newsradio that refining capacity is the difference-maker on the West Coast.
Just says September and October are when refineries shut down for maintenance. “It’s usually scheduled, and that’s also when they switch over to the winter blend,” Just says, “which are sold for less and cost less to refine, but while that happens, that tightens the supply because we have refineries that have shut down.” Add to that, Just says, maintenance is being done now that was put off from summer driving season, when prices were higher, which just delayed the pain.
Just expects prices to go higher, for now, so she recommends taking advantage of grocery or big box store discounts – or anywhere else you can get a break.
