Gas prices are going up yet again.
According to GasBuddy, Nevada gas prices are a little over a cent higher than last week, with the statewide average sitting at $3.49 per gallon. Reno is seeing a three-cent jump to $3.68 a gallon.
GasBuddy said the closure of a Bay Area refinery is shrinking supply and driving up prices. Reno isn't the only area affected.
"Anyone that's supplied right now by northern California is seeing a bit of a jolt as it relates to the loss in supply from the refinery," said Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis, GasBuddy.
Valero's refinery in Benicia, northeast of Oakland, is set to close in April. De Haan said another factor is California's switch to summer gasoline, which gets better mileage when it's warm outside, but it's more expensive to produce.
We spoke to some drivers in Reno-Sparks who say the constant price changes are frustrating and have become part of everyday life.
"It just gets kind of frustrating when it's jumping all over the place and not really being as stable as I think it could be," said Linda Augenstein.
"It is what it is. You just kind of have to measure it out because you need gas. You've got to go to work. Without work, you don't have food, you don't have gas," Kathy Eastwood said.
One driver from northern California visits Reno once a month, and he said he takes advantage of the lower prices here when he can.
"In Susanville, it's $4.14. So here it's like 10 cents cheaper," said Brad Peconom.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) lists Washoe County gas as the most expensive in Nevada. Augenstein says she's seen much lower prices out toward Elko.
"I do miss traveling out there and being able to fill up with, you know, $2.39 instead of $4.37," she said.
To the south, Carson City regularly sees cheaper gas than Reno-Sparks. But De Haan says driving there just for gas doesn't add up.
"You'd need a huge savings of almost a dollar a gallon to make that round trip, 30-mile trip worthwhile," he said.
De Haan said the best you can do is plan ahead and look for cheaper gas stations that aren't too far out of the way.
You can check gas prices across Nevada and in your area on GasBuddy's website.
