The Business Journal reported a couple of weeks ago that Californians have paid $3 billion extra for gasoline since February because regulators will not let a refinery in Torrance, crippled by an explosion, patch the damage and boost operations. Now, as the Los Angeles Times reports, Exxon Mobil Corp. has scrapped its hope of using that patch. Since the permanent repair won’t be made until this winter, it appears the state’s motorists are stuck with higher gas bills for now.