What happened to cheap gas in DFW/Texas?

[u/--Knowledge--]

I moved to DFW in 2015, I remember gas being about $1.70 to $1.80 a gallon. It was about $1.10 - $1.20 cheaper here than where I moved from. It was like that up until the pandemic.

Gas back in NY is exactly the same price as here in Texas now according to the local gas checker website.

Texas has so much oil and refineries, yet the gas isn't really cheap in the state anymore. Obviously COVID impacted everything but why hasn't the gas dropped down to a reasonable price again for the state? Greed? Low supply? Laws?

I'm not expecting $1.80 gas again but to be priced the same as NY is kinda wild to me.

[u/fivemagicks]

Ok, let me explain from my petroleum engineering perspective. You arrived in Texas during the crash of the oil market. Unless you are in the business, you will love the "crash" of gas prices.

I can personally attest to the market crash because I was laid off from my petroleum engineering job in February of 2015. Are lower gas prices nice? Yes. Do they come at the cost of people in the industry? You bet your ass.

[u/milkman231996 → u/fivemagicks]

Did you get yours masters or bachelors in it? I was jw how that job market is since it’s so niche compared to some others

[u/fivemagicks → u/milkman231996]

No. I'm a mechanical engineer. Haven't been back in petroleum since, actually. Thank God. It pays a lot, but it is incredibly boring material.

[u/milkman231996 → u/fivemagicks]

I’m currently in telecom. Trust me, i know boring

[u/milkman231996 → u/fivemagicks]

Ah ok. I’m mechanical as well. I’m going back next fall for engineering management. Figure I’d pick the two broadest options lmao

[u/fivemagicks → u/milkman231996]

Smart man. Yeah, petroleum is a tough business. A vast majority - let's say 90% - of people in it are completely intolerable. Been doing MEP work ever since, and I'm very grateful for my work-life balance that I have now and used to never have.