November 6, 2008
Price gouging at the gas pump is hardly a problem lately, but it
wasn't long ago that was a real concern. In North Carolina, two
Charlotte gas stations have been ordered to refund thousands of
dollars to consumers overcharged in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.
After the storm roared ashore at Houston, supply disruptions caused brief gasoline shortages in the Southeastern U.S. In some cases, stations still selling gas hiked the price.
"North Carolinians let us know about possible price gouging at the pump, and we're working to put some money back in their pockets," said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper. "I urge more stations to agree to do right by their customers."
Cooper began investigating possible price gouging by North Carolina gas stations after thousands of consumer complaints started pouring into his office on September 12. North Carolina's law against price gouging was triggered that day by the declaration of an abnormal market disruption due to the hurricane.
Cooper has subpoenaed owners of 36 gas stations in Anson, Ashe, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Craven, Cumberland, Guilford, Iredell, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Stanley, Transylvania and Yadkin counties as part of his investigation.
Owners of The Corner Market gas station in Jefferson and Old Fort Citgo in Old Fort have already agreed to make refunds for overpriced gas. Cooper has also demanded information from the owner of 10 Circle K stations in the Charlotte area.
Consumers reported that some stations charged them as much as $5.29 a gallon for gas. Cooper said the investigation is continuing.
