Phoenix gas prices soar as pipeline shuts down; 40-cent increase seen; shortages are possible

AZ Republic ^ | Max Jarman

[hsmomx3]

A temporary shutdown of the pipeline that supplies roughly 30 percent of the Valley's gasoline is causing dramatic price increases and shortages of premium and midgrade gas at many stations.

Independent dealers are the hardest hit, but many branded stations also are affected.

[talleyman]

Thank your friendly local enviro wackos...

[Eva]

Have you noticed that whenever there is a problem, the old ARCO logo is used, but when things are going well, it's BP. There is no ARCO. They kept the name on the AM PM Stations as part of the agreement to maintain the low price stategy for a period of time, to avoid price fixing. After the time period is over, they will all be BP stations.

[mewzilla]

Napolitano's spokeswoman Kris Mayes said the governor has formed a task force to address the problem.

Oh, that'll be a big help.

[dwilli]

"Ron Dale, who operates an independent station at 48th Street and Southern Avenue in Phoenix, raised the price of regular to $1.89 a gallon Monday, primarily to keep from running out.


"I raised the price to slow down demand, but it doesn't seem to be working," Dale said. His supplies are low and his distributor told him not to expect any more product until next week."



How big a fool does this guy think consumers are?

[rederic]

The station owner obviously understands 'supply and demand,'raising his price causes 'demand destruction' which, in a time of physical shortage, is exactly what is needed. Would you have the government ration gasoline?
Rederic

[Old Professer]

Raise the price to $5.00/gallon and I'll bet there will be plenty.

[dwilli]

Do you seriously believe this station owner jacked up his price 40 cents because he was afraid he will sell out?

I just heard that the crisis is not as critical as thought before.

I am sure the station owner will sell an equal amount of gasoline at 80 cents a gallon less so as not to appear a gouger.

[rederic]

Obviously, I don’t know the motives of the station owner; he may be a greedy SOB for all I know. Which is beside the point. If there is a physical shortage of gasoline he did the right thing by raising his price---economically. Supply and demand is not just a nice phrase; it is fundamental to our economic system. To point to one station, to the actions of one individual is not the best example, I’ll admit. For a better example of supply and demand in action take a look at the natural gas market for the last year and you’ll see how supply and demand work. You will see how ‘demand destruction’ works. Supply and demand does not mean everyone will be happy, it does not mean that there will not be those who will lose, ‘supply and demand’ is simply the best way to allocate scarce resources.
Rederic

[dwilli]

The natural gas market is regulated to a degree. The gasoline market is not. The gasoline suppliers raise the
price at the drop of a hat, using bad news as an excuse.

They raise the price on gasoline in their storage tanks, gasoline not affected by the reason for an expected rise in prices.

[ccmay]

I just heard that the crisis is not as critical as thought before.

Well, I was out this evening and there are gas lines a block long.

I want the gas station owners to raise the price to $3.00 or $4.00 a gallon so people who really need it (like me) can get to work. I don't want panicked grandmas who are down to two-thirds of a tank clogging up the filling stations so they can get to their bingo games.

-ccm

[ccmay]

I just heard that the crisis is not as critical as thought before.

Just for follow up-- I went out to gas up the wife's car, and not only is every gas station near my house closed, but one of the station attendants said there is no gas for sale anywhere in the Phoenix metro area at this hour.

-ccm

[Timesink]

I just heard that the crisis is not as critical as thought before.

If there's only a 30% reduction in supply, I can't think of any reason for there to be NO GAS AT ALL except massive panic buying.

In any event, this graf:

ARCO and other retailers have asked Gov. Janet Napolitano to relax the Valley's oxygenated fuel requirements to allow gas being stored in Tucson to be trucked to Phoenix. The gas in storage is not the oxygenated type.

proves that the main cause of this problem is Environazism. Perhaps the electorate of Arizona will learn a lesson from this.

[Truth666]

the tragedy in pics

Firemen under water
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030817/161/501w5.html

Firemen under smoke and fire
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030817/168/4zzxj.html
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030817/168/4zzxa.html

More Water :
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030817/170/4zyw9.html

More Fire :
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030817/168/4zziy.html
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030817/241/5025b.html
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030817/168/4zzx0.html

[Jeff Chandler]

There is gas at the Chevron station at Cooper and Chandler Blvd. For now.

[ccmay]

Just called the SuperPumper at Frank Lloyd Wright and the 101. They got a tanker early this morning.

-ccm

[GladesGuru]

Dear Sir or Madame, as the case may be,

Having read your thoughtful post suggesting "I want the gas station owners to raise the price to $3.00 or $4.00 a gallon so people who really need it (like me) can get to work. I don't want panicked grandmas who are down to two-thirds of a tank clogging up the filling stations so they can get to their bingo games."

As we are facing a possibile time of financial instability due to international tensions, GATT, NAFTA, and the proximity of Mars, it is my considered professional opinion that your assets and funds should be immediately transfered to me for safekeeping until this crisis has been resolved.

Assets and funds not so protected are capable of causing gross instabilities in the economic realm when prioritization of their use is not in the hands of trained professionals and the philosophically wise.

This is for your own good.

Do it for the children!