Second, oil companies do not want to buy every gas station. There are a host of economic criteria that must be met. Traffic patterns, existing competition, anticipated or existing volume, and current operations are but a portion of the process. Not all locations will pass the test. Third, oil companies will still compete with each other.
Competition drives prices down, which is good for the consumer.
We want the ability to make the decision with all the options, whether selling or contracting, without the restrictions. Eric Lee, vice president and general manager of Tesoro Hawaii believes that a bill passed by the Senate may send a signal that the retail divorcement law passed in 1997 is not working. Instead, the law has caused unforeseen problems and undesirable consequences. A free and open market can only be maintained by adjusting to changes realistically.