Oil company execs pumped for answers

[Jimbo S]

Representatives of the five major oil companies said Thursday they will consider Gov. Jim Doyle's request that their corporations donate a portion of their profits to a fund that helps Wisconsin families struggling to pay winter heating bills.

In the six weeks after Hurricane Katrina, Wisconsin consumers paid $113 million more for gasoline as a result of price increases related to Katrina, Doyle said. In addition, utilities have warned customers to expect increases of 40% to 50% on home heating costs this winter, with the increase tied to the surging price of natural gas since the hurricanes.

During a more than three-hour hearing, oil industry executives said they are working to boost supplies of petroleum, but that the industry is still recovering from supply disruptions caused to rigs and refineries by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Doyle said he was disappointed that oil company CEOs didn't come to the hearing, but said he "appreciated that the oil companies sent people of significant responsibility."

http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/dec05/374729.asp