Video report by Milrose Basco, News 11

Drivers in California still in shock over the spike in gas in the past week and some having to reorganize their lives in order to save money on gas.

There may be relief on the way.

Since August California has seen high gas prices but nothing like a 60 cent hike in the past week.

"We take one vehicle. My wife and myself when we tend to get off of work we kind of join together and go different places," David Godinez said.

"Ridiculous. Oh my God. They say it’s going to go up and up, oh my God I’m struggling as it is right now can you imagine if they go higher?" Andrea Munoz said.

Imperial Valley College Craig Blek a professor who teaches economy is a bit more optimistic. He says the prices should go down by this weekend because he says the governor has the Air Resources board to allow refineries to switch to a gasoline blend that is normally only used in winter.

The cause of the high prices -- refinery issues and fires at the refineries.

"And because we use the special blend of gas that most states don’t use. The special blend means that we can’t buy gas from Arizona or other places when we have problems because it’s not the same," Blek said.

He says that special blend is what helps keep the air clean in california with a population of 38 million.

"I’d rather have the price go up 60 cents and still be able to buy it then have the price be 60 cents lower but pull into the gas station and not find it," Blek said.

But try telling that to the consumer who’s filling up his truck at $100 for half a tank.

"I think it’s absolutely criminal. There should be no reason it should be this high," Ron Walker said.

Blek says there’s a high price to pay for clean air.