Some panicked drivers in the Southeast are still waiting in long lines to top off their tanks at the few gas stations that still have fuel. The shortages have hit Atlanta Georgia, Nashville & Knoxville Tenn, the Asheville N.C. and Spartanburg S.C. areas the hardest. Most drivers have been avoiding the use of there cars to keep from running out of gas. However there are reports of cars that have run dry while sitting in lines at stations all about these areas.
The supply disruptions have taken place along two major pipelines that have operated at well below capacity since the hurricanes knocked offshore oil production and several refineries out of service along the Gulf of Mexico.
One of the pipelines is based in Alpharetta, Ga., the Colonial Pipeline delivers a daily average of 100 million gallons of gasoline, home heating oil, aviation fuel and other refined petroleum products when running to capacity.
The Plantation Pipeline, which is partially owned by Kinder Morgan. Plantation Pipeline delivers over 600,000 barrels per day of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel through its network which serves Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., and other destinations in the southeast United States when running to capacity.
Five of the major refineries in the US that supply nearly 5% of the nations gasoline supplies still remain closed. Currently it is reported that only 4 of the 17 refineries in the Houston area are still off line. In fact nearly two thirds of the refineries that were knocked off line by Ike are back on line. However the refineries that have come back on line are not operating at 100% capacity so gas supply will still remain somewhat limited. Gas should be in route to the areas now however it could be a few days before the pumps are actually back in use.
The gas shortages have sparking panic buying, long lines and high prices. Price gouging is the biggest problem during a gas supply shortage. At current the state of Georgia has subpoenaed sales records from approximately 130 gas stations after complaints of price gouging. One station reportedly charged almost $9 a gallon for regular grade gas.
If you suspect a station of gouging, take a picture of the posted prices on the sign as well as on the pump and contact the local police and the local Department of Energy office and fill out this on line form.
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