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With some gas stations dry, pipeline works to send more fuel

Fuel prices in the Southeast have spiked as a result of a leak in a pipeline that has resulted in the pipeline’s closure.

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Pipeline damage leaves some fuel stations without gasoline as suppliers scramble to supply the Southeast with fuel.

A gas station displays a sign informing customers it is out of certain grades of gasoline in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016.

Pump prices in Alabama ticked up to $2.01 on Monday while prices in Tennessee rose almost 3 cents to $2.13 from $2.10 on Sunday, according to the AAA. The national average was $2.20. But GasBuddy.com reported some stations charging as much as $2.99. The Colonial Pipeline disruption could contribute to the availability of supply and North and SC may see higher prices until normal shipments resume. “Even yesterday, prices were probably around $2.50”.

McCrory’s office says most of those stations are getting new supplies of gas or will get them Monday. Jones said he considered working from home Monday instead of driving the 25 minutes to his office in the Atlanta area, but decided against it. The highest reported price, $9.99 a gallon at a station in King, had been advertised but not actually charged, though the Consumer Protection Division was investigating one sale at $5.89 and another topping $4 a gallon. Now he says he’ll think twice before deciding whether he needs to use his vehicle.

“I’ll be more careful”, Jones said, “just kind of depending on when they get things fixed and when service gets back to normal”. If you think a station’s prices are too high, file a complaint with the state Deaprtment of Justice at nando.com/gouging. Similar issues were reported in parts of Tennessee. Most stations that ran out of gas over the weekend should be receiving fuel Monday and Tuesday, according to the company.

Colonial said supply disruptions would be felt first in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and SC.

The problems so far don’t appear too severe, however.

AAA Carolinas, an affiliate of the American Automobile Association, is a not-for-profit organization that serves more than 2 million members and the public with travel, automobile and insurance services while being an advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. Officials in other states were unable to provide more details on the situation Sunday.

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On September 9th, around 6,000 barrels-roughly 250,000 gallons-of gasoline were found to have escaped from the Colonial Pipeline, the massive tube responsible for bringing around 40 percent of the gasthat gets used on the East Coast, thanks to a leak in Shelby County, Alabama.

A sign informs customers of a gas outage at a station in Smyrna Ga. Monday Sept. 19 2016. Gas prices spiked and drivers found'out of service bags covering pumps as the gas shortage in the South rolled into the work week raising fears that the disru