The average cost of a gallon of gas in California was $6.29 on Friday. That’s up $1 since the beginning of the month.

The average cost of a gallon of gas in California was $6.29 on Friday. That’s up $1 since the beginning of the month.

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The average cost of a gallon of gas in California was $6.29 on Friday. That’s up $1 since the beginning of the month.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling for California regulators to speed up the transition to cheaper winter-blend gasoline as prices at the pump keep rising.

Newsom sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board on Friday directing it to take whatever steps are necessary to allow refineries to begin making and distributing winter-blend gasoline. The blend, normally only allowed to be made after Oct. 31, is easier to make and cheaper for consumers.

"Gas prices in the state are approaching record highs. If this situation continues, it may cause unacceptable price impacts for consumers and small businesses, significant economic disruption and serious harm to public safety and welfare," Newsom said in the letter obtained by KCRA 3.

The average cost of a gallon of gas in California was $6.29 on Friday, according to AAA. That’s up $1 since the beginning of the month. National gas prices are at $3.80 and have also begun to tick up but had been declining for months.

Winter-blend gasoline has a "higher Reid Vapor Pressure, meaning they evaporate more easily and allow gasoline to ignite more easily to start your car in cold temperatures," according to GasBuddy.

The blend is about 15 to 20 cents per gallon cheaper for the consumer, according to the

Southern California Automobile Club, an affiliate of AAA.

"In light of the dramatic increase in gas prices that California is experiencing, we should not wait until the end of the month to start distributing or to ramp up production of our winter-blend gasoline," Newsom said.

He said allowing refiners to make an early transition to the blend would increase fuel supply, helping lower the costs.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Here is the letter: pic.twitter.com/0UFF76L0Vn— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) September 30, 2022

Here is the letter: pic.twitter.com/0UFF76L0Vn

"Another band-aid approach from the governor," state Sen. Brian Dahle said on Twitter, replying to KCRA 3's Capitol Correspondent Ashley Zavala. Dahle is running against Newsom for governor.

Republican lawmakers have repeatedly called for the state to suspend its 53-cent gas tax to bring relief to drivers.

"The governor just doesn’t get it," Assemblymember James Gallagher tweeted in response to Newsom's letter. "Every other state is seeing relief from high gas prices. The problem in CA is policy. We need major action, starting with suspending the taxes and fees that make our gas so much more expensive, adding approx $1.80 to a gallon!"

The Democratic-controlled Legislature declined to do suspend the gas tax earlier this year and instead approved sending inflation relief payments to Californians starting as soon as next week.

You can find out how much you qualify for here. Eligibility is based on 2020 tax filings. Learn more in the video below.

| Video Below | California gas prices rising due to some issues with West Coast oil refineries

Planned and unplanned maintenance of California and Washington state refineries are slowing oil production, according to John Treanor with AAA.

"Every three to five years, they have to be taken off-line so they can get maintenance and inspections done," Treanor said. "They always plan it between the summer and the winter when the demand is low."

But Treanor said the timing is bad with work being done at a Southern California refinery due to a fire.

"When you have both of those going on at the same time, that means oil production is down, supply is down and it can't be met," he said.

| Interactive Below | County-by-county look at gas prices in the greater Sacramento region

This is a developing story, stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.

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