STATEMENT FROM GOV. EASLEY ON GAS PRICES

From NEWSLINK - NC Division of Travel and Tourism:

In anticipation of gas price and quantity concerns for travelers in the wake of Hurricane Ike this weekend, Gov. Easley has taken action to help protect consumers from price gouging. Also listed below are contact details to report price gouging. This is an issue that will impact travel across the nation this weekend.

STATEMENT FROM GOV. EASLEY ON GAS PRICES

This morning (Friday) Gov. Mike Easley declared a state of “abnormal market disruption” under North Carolina law, which charges the Attorney General with enforcing the price gouging statute.

Easley issued the following statement concerning the situation:

“As a result of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, oil refineries in Texas and Louisiana have temporarily interrupted some gasoline supplies to the pipelines that serve North Carolina. Therefore, there may be temporary limitations on our gas supply. However, wholesale gas prices are up less than 20 cents a gallon over the last few days. Therefore, consumers should not see prices rise substantially more than this rise in the wholesale price.

''Today I have declared a state of abnormal market disruption under North Carolina law and charged the Attorney General with enforcing the price gouging statute. This statute prohibits the charging of prices that are unreasonably excessive under the circumstances.

''We know that there will be some supply disruption, but we do not yet know the extent. Past events of this kind have lasted only a short time. I urge motorists to reasonably conserve gasoline until the situation is clearer.”

On September 4, 2008, Easley issued Executive Order No. 145: “Emergency Relief For Damage Caused By Tropical Storm Hanna And Other Related Storm Events Affecting The Atlantic Coast Region.” The executive order temporarily waived size and weight restrictions for vehicles traveling in the state to deliver storm relief, which also includes the delivery of fuel.

Consumers can report scams and frauds to Attorney General Roy Cooper’s office by calling toll-free 1-877-5-NO-SCAM within the state. Consumers are also encouraged to contact the U.S. Department of Energy’s Gas Price Watch Program at http://gaswatch.energy.gov.

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