A pipeline company working to fix the leak said Tuesday a bypass around the leak is complete and expects the main line to be restarted today.
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Sponsored content: Download the latest Expert Edition on Identity Management. On Sept. 9, a 36-inch pipeline near Birmingham, Alabama began leaking gasoline at least 252,000 gallons into a nearby pond.
On Sunday, Colonial Pipeline said they were beginning construction of a temporary pipeline that will bypass a leaking section of its main gasoline pipeline in Shelby County, Alabama.
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.
“There is less diesel and gasoline supplies moving into the state so it is causing prices to rise in some areas”, Grant said.
North Carolina’s consumer protection watchdog is getting reports of potential gas price gouging as the state’s gas stations report running low because of a leaking pipeline in Alabama.
AAA says prices could increase by as much as 20 cents before returning to more seasonable levels. He said North Carolina is only receiving a third of its normal fuel supply.
The gasoline leak has been blamed for gas shortages and higher gas prices across the South. “Colonial engineers are testing the pipeline today and upon successful completion, will prepare for a safe restart of the main fuel line”. So while some gas stations in the area are faced with the possibility of running out of gas, that’s one thing this BP isn’t anxious about. “You may have some problems having finding stations” with gas especially south of Washington D.C. Colonial Pipeline has more than 700 employees and partners on site working as safely and expeditiously as possible to fix the impacted segment of pipe and return to normal operations.
“They project the line will restart tomorrow, however, it will still take a few days for the fuel supply chain to return to normal”, he said. Drivers in SC are paying an average of $2.04 per gallon for unleaded gasoline, up 13 cents from last week.
Wargo runs a nonprofit organization that supplies pet food to people in need and spends much of his time on the road. “Oh, yeah, I’ve noticed that the prices have just gone up – I mean, through the roof!”
The company is constructing a 500-foot bypass pipeline to restore the flow of gasoline to Southeastern U.S. markets.
“I was 0 for 6 on Saturday, 0 for 3 yesterday, and then I called about four stations this morning”, he said.
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Alabama’s law prohibits the “unconscionable pricing” of items for sale or rent, generally determined to be a price that is 25 percent of more than the average price charged in the same area within the last 30 days – unless that increase can be attributed to a reasonable cost.
