Bryan wants FTC to probe high gas prices

He said he finds it hard to believe that moves by OPEC combined with refinery fires in California could be wholly responsible for prices to rise nearly 50 percent in some parts of Nevada in only a matter of weeks.

"Nevadans deserve to get a straight answer as to why gas prices are skyrocketing at such an alarming pace throughout the state," Bryan, D-Nev., said Thursday in a statement from Washington.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked the Justice Department on Wednesday to investigate possible anti-trust violations in setting of gas prices in seven Western states, including Nevada.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., earlier asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to look into the matter and intends to meet next week with Energy Secretary Bill Richardson.

Bryan asked FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky in a letter Thursday to investigate whether there is any evidence of collusion in setting of gas prices in Nevada.

"On the face of it, it seems tremendously unlikely that the huge price increases in such a short amount of time could be completely dependent upon recent decisions by OPEN to curtail production or temporary short-term, shutdowns of several refineries," the senator said.

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