California drivers face the highest gas prices in the United States, but some have discovered a secret to scoring lower rates. Gas costs an average of $6.07 per gallon in the Golden State, compared to the national average of $4.43. This disparity has driven customers to the Horizon Fuel Center in Valley Center, a rural community about one hour north of San Diego.
The 24-hour station offers relatively cheaper rates, listed at $5.49 per gallon on Thursday, according to GasBuddy. Horizon's prices are lower than most gas stations in California because it sits on land owned by the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians. The tribe also owns the gas station, which as a result is exempt from state taxes and fees, The New York Times reported.
Fuel is supplied by a Native American-owned company that exclusively serves gas stations on tribal trust land or reservations, further driving down costs. David Dickerson, 51, explained that filling up his 160-gallon tank at Horizon helped him save about $500 per week. 'As long as we stay busy, we're barely making ends meet,' Dickerson, the owner of an enterprise delivering sand and gravel, told the outlet.
Elaine LaPlaca-Heston, 69, said Horizon was pivotal in keeping her costs low given her unstable employment. 'I have to watch every dime that I spend these days,' LaPlaca-Heston told the outlet. She said she needed to stick to $35 whenever she went to get gas, which has gotten especially pricey in California given the war in Iran.
The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians opened the gas station in 2021, according to Tribal Business News. In addition to relatively cheaper fuel, the station also offers ultrafast electric vehicle chargers. Hellyaachwehay Quisquis, the tribe's former top economic development executive, explained that the tribe opened the gas station even as it faced economic uncertainty over the COVID pandemic. 'We got started planning this before COVID hit, and then the pandemic struck and we were faced with a decision to start construction or play it safe and see what's going to happen,' Quisquis told the outlet. He added: 'When things opened back up a little, we started construction on this, and it's become this great asset of ours.'
The tribe's reservation near San Diego is about 2,000 acres. Quisquis said the gas station had put the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians in a 'really good position.' He believes the experiment has been such a success that other tribes might even look to replicate the business model. Horizon has raked in more than $10 million in revenue since it opened, and helped the tribe diversify its income. 'Our casino has been our economic driver for 21 years,' Quisquis said. 'Ever since COVID, we had to start putting our funds to work more aggressively.'
The gas station is also allowed to sell flavored tobacco and flavored vapes, which other stations in California typically are not allowed to do. Most recently, it opened a new car wash in April, according to the Valley Roadrunner. The washes range from $12 to $24 with monthly passes, the outlet reported.
California is the most expensive gas market in the country, with per gallon averages topping $6, according to AAA. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped 12 cents from last week at $4.42, according to AAA. Crude oil prices have gone down this week as the US and Iran reached a tentative deal to extend a ceasefire and negotiate the latter's nuclear program. However, oil prices could rise again if an agreement ultimately is not reached. AAA added that California remained the most expensive gas market in the country at $6.07 per gallon, considerably higher than second-placed Washington state at $5.74. California's steep prices have also coincided with refineries closing around the state, further pushing up costs at the pump. The west coast state will lose 17 percent of its oil refinery over the next 12 months, according to the US Energy Information Administration. As a result, California will likely have to import its replacement fuels from Asia.
