Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway is suing Marathon Petroleum in federal court for allegedly inflating gas prices in parts of the state.
Conway accuses the company of engaging in anti-competitive practices that have led to higher gas prices in parts of the state. The suit alleges that Marathon’s acquisition of Ashland Oil in 1998 allowed the company to keep gas prices 12 to 20 cents per gallon higher on average, with the Louisville and northern Kentucky regions impacted the most.
According to Conway, per-gallon prices in Louisville are 20 to 30 cents higher than the rest of the commonwealth.
The Kentucky Attorney General in 2011 took the company to court for allegedly illegally inflating wholesale prices following flooding in parts of the state.
The company denied the charges and said its prices were based solely on market conditions.
Conway is a Democratic candidate for Kentucky governor, and is considered the heavy favorite to win his party's nomination next week.
