Local gas consumers cry foul over fuel costs

Patty Minner pumped $20 of unleaded into her pickup Wednesday at the Citgo on Broadway, but she didn't get as much gas as she would have two days ago.

"Not near as much," said the 48-year-old Scott City resident. "Normally, $20 will get me three-quarters of a tank, and now I only got about half."

While many Cape Girardeau gas stations saw prices return to a more reasonable level after Tuesday's terrorist attacks, the Citgo kept its price at $1.56 a gallon, 15 cents higher than it had been on Monday.

"It's price gouging," Minner said. "If it's not, I don't know what to call it. I don't think we should be punished twice. The terror of what happened is bad enough."

But local gas company operators said they weren't gouging, they were merely responding to wholesale prices.

Gregory Brown, 31, of Cape Girardeau went to Kidd's on Kingshighway because it lowered its prices from $1.67 to $1.49. But he didn't like what he saw Tuesday.

"There was no plausible reason for a 30-cent increase," he said. "They're taking advantage of local customers, which is especially bad considering what happened. I think they should be prosecuted."

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon said that is what will happen if gas stations and suppliers around the state take advantage of the situation created by the attacks.

"Any person who attempts to profit from the great tragedy that has befallen our nation deserves not only our condemnation but also a full investigation and prosecution under our consumer law," Nixon said at a news conference Wednesday in Jefferson City, Mo.

He said price reports around the state ranged from $2.49 to $4.99 a gallon. Prices in Cape Girardeau didn't get nearly that high.

"Profiteering during a time of tragedy and crisis is both unconscionable and illegal, and we will work to put a swift end to it," Nixon said.

Holden responds

Gov. Bob Holden issued a press release late Wednesday to assure Missourians that gas supplies throughout the state were adequate. The Department of Natural Resources is closely monitoring supplies and prices of gas in the state.

Asked if price gouging took place, Adam Kidd of Kidd Oil, which owns the two Kidd's stations in Cape Girardeau, said: "I don't believe there was, but we don't answer those questions. It's a volatile market right now."

Kidd declined to elaborate.

Jim Maurer, an owner of the six Rhodes 101 convenience stores, said suppliers increased his cost for fuel.

"When we get an increase, I've got to pass that on to the customer. I can't eat that," he said. "Anyone can come in and look at what we did."

Maurer said he didn't blame the oil companies. Those suppliers -- he has 10 -- were told that a few oil refiners were temporarily suspending their operations as a security precaution, he said. Then they were told some fuel would need to be rationed due to the uncertainty of future supplies, said Maurer.

"Not to mention that the media was talking about a shortage, which caused some people to panic and overtax the fuel distribution system," he said. "Everything was crazy. But there was no price gouging. I've always known that to be $3 to $4. I think we were just trying to adjust to the market under very uncertain circumstances."

Milbert Kassle, 72, of Perry County said he is dubious. "It's unfair," he said. "Somebody's got to be making money somewhere along the line."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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