The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest daily increase since Oct. 2, 2019, on Thursday, increasing 2.7 cents to a record $4.783.
The average price has risen 21 of the past 25 days, increasing 15.9 cents, including 1.2 cents Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 4.7 cents more than one week ago, 15.9 cents higher than one month ago and $1.126 greater than one year ago.
The average price has set records seven of the past nine days.
KPBS found Nick Stoneking shelling out $95 to fill up in La Mesa. "It’s pretty ridiculous. It’s definitely gone up since the last time I filled up," he said, adding that he has no choice but to fill up.
"It’s been painful," said Scott Roscoe from Ramona. He said if prices were to go up by a dollar as some experts predict because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, his family would have to rework their budget. "We won’t go out to dinner as much. We’ll really have to watch what we’re doing — I mean, we live on a budget but, you know, we only make so much a month," he said.
"I mean, we’re at $5 — I can't do $6," said Shawn Pratt, a San Diegan who provides in-home support services for clients who live on opposite sides of the county.
Public transportation is not an option for her, she said, and she’s at her limit.
"How do we afford gas if it’s that high and afford California’s rent, and water and gas and electricity and food?" she said.
Related: Average San Diego County gas price rises to another record high
Supervisor Jim Desmond, who represents District 5, said he was getting about 10 to 15 calls from people wondering the same thing every day.
"And so I sent a letter to the governor saying: 'Hey, there’s a surplus this year that we all know about — it's the surplus of state taxpayers, it’s their money, and so how can we put this to good use?'" he said.
Desmond said he wanted to temporarily cut state-mandated programs, such as wildfire mitigation, that end up on SDG&E bills.
"For a period of time, maybe six months, maybe a year or whatever the case may be so that this can help offset and give some relief to people who are already struggling from inflation," he said.
Desmond hoped Gov. Gavin Newsom would take action on his idea or use other means to bring relief soon.
There have been proposals to halt the state gas tax. In a written statement, Newsom's office said the governor's proposed budget would forgo the gas tax increase that's supposed to take effect in July, postponing it until 2023.
That will decrease the state’s fuel tax revenue by $523 million dollars. The budget still needs to be approved.
"I’m not going to complain — every little bit helps," Pratt said. "If we can take it down, I might be able to afford another loaf of bread or another tank of gas."
Thursday morning President Joe Biden said he was taking action to bring down gas prices and urged U.S. oil companies to not exploit Russia's invasion of Ukraine to hike gas prices.
