News from the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission
Phone: (405)
522-2100, FAX: (405) 522-1623, www.occ.state.ok.us
September 12,
2001
THE
CORPORATION COMMISSION DOING ALL IT CAN TO FIGHT GASOLINE PRICE GOUGING
(Oklahoma City) – As
American’s work to rebuild from the heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks on
our great nation, it appears the acts of a few gasoline retailers have set off
a panic among Oklahomans with efforts to dramatically increase prices. While a
report from the Oklahoma Petroleum Marketers Association said refiners passed
on an increase of about 30 cents per gallon to wholesalers on Tuesday,
September 11, reports from consumers of a handful of retailers around the state
trying to double the price of their gasoline appears to have set off a gasoline
buying panic.
Gasoline is a commodity
which reacts to uncertainties in the market. Such uncertainties may include the
consistency of oil supplies from the Middle East and what actions the United
States may take to respond to the terrorism.
The Corporation Commission
has no authority to regulate the price of gasoline but in an effort to do
everything possible to help prevent Oklahomans from being gouged, Commission
Chairman Denise Bode said “Along with the Governor, I contacted representatives
of the Oklahoma Fuel Marketers to urge restraint in this time of national
crisis. In addition, the Commission’s Petroleum Storage Tank Division has been
contacting gasoline retailers across Oklahoma to make sure they are in strict
compliance with all rules including the posting of fuel prices, pump
calibration and quality of fuel.”
Commissioner Bob Anthony
said “All of the Commission’s fuel inspectors are and have been in the field
addressing the problem to the best of their ability. The inspectors are driving
around looking for gas stations where the price is not prominently posted and
telling them it has to be clearly visible and must be the same as the price on
the pump.”
In addition to the correct
and prominent posting of the price, Commissioner Ed Apple said “Commission fuel
inspectors will continue to keep a close eye on the quality of the fuel and the
calibration of the pumps to be certain Oklahomans get the proper value for
their money.”
-occ-
All news releases and advisories are available for downloading and review from the OCC web site at www.occ.state.ok.us