WOCO Pep Oil Company in Covington, which supplies fuel to Pure Stations and other locations, was able to maintain its supply of gas to the stations over the weekend, but is now starting to run short, according to Pat Campbell with WOCO.
Advertisement
Last week’s rupture and leak of more than 252,000 gallons of gas in Alabama has led to some gas shortages in Alabama and Georgia – and fueled fears of more widespread shortages across the Southeast.
A break in a Colonial Pipeline discovered September 9 interrupted service to Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. SC motorists are seeing an average price of $2.04, up from last week’s average of $1.91.
“This is a proactive step to protect Virginia citizens and businesses by ensuring that companies can bring in the gasoline supplies they need to offset any shortages that may arise as a result of this event”, McAuliffe said in Friday’s statement. “I have directed all applicable executive branch agencies to take immediate action to address any verified reports of price gouging of gasoline”, McAuliffe said.
Gas prices in the state averaged $2.03 per gallon Monday. From that point, fuel will be delivered in tankers to other areas in the state.
Meade said there was no reason to panic and fill gas tanks with fuel.
Posey said several of DeKalb’s local stations don’t use that particular pipeline and instead draw from western Tennessee.
State-by-state comparisons show most areas of the country saw slight increases over the last week.
The average price at the pump is about $2.17 per gallon, although some stations have no gasoline left. The company said Monday that it is shipping “significant volumes” on the second of the two lines to mitigate the impact of the interruption on the other line.
“There have been recent reports that wholesale and retail gas prices have substantially increased in some markets”, he said.
Colonial Pipeline Co. must conduct testing and analysis on the failed section of the pipeline, according to the Transportation Department’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Agency, which is investigating the spill in rural Alabama.
The damage spurred scattered reports of gas stations running out of fuel have across the Southeast. The global oil benchmark, which is closely tied to the price of USA gasoline, hovered near $47 a barrel this morning, staging a rally amid news reports that an worldwide deal to stabilize oil prices is close at hand.
In response, Gov. Nikki Haley issued a statewide executive order Monday to help speed up gas shipments on trucks by declaring that an emergency exists.
A Colonial representative said it is working at all hours to fix the leak, which affects customers in Alabama, the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee.
“And they got gas”, said Elaine Steward, who stopped at a North Augusta, SC gas station on the was to Louisiana from Myrtle Beach, SC.
Gov. Nathan Deal’s spokeswoman Jen Ryan said in a statement Sunday that they haven’t received any complaints but will act accordingly if that changes.
Advertisement
The prices at the pump are rudely getting our attention this week as they jump 10 cents a gallon or more from where they were just last week.
