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As of Friday afternoon, motorists in New York were paying an average of $3.96 per gallon for regular, the highest in the continental United States, according to AAA. The price is 3 cents lower than a week ago.
In Mount Vernon, as of Thursday, the cheapest gas ccould be found at the Gulf station on S. Columbus Avenue where gas is going for $3.89 per gallon, 10 cents below the state average. Motorists continue to fill up, despite the prices gouging holes in wallets.
It may be some time before prices start to drop. Robert Sinclair, the spokesperson for AAA New York, said storm surges knocked out several refineries, which has hindered gas deliveries and caused gas prices to rise.
“The storm surge shorted out electrical power and flooded facilities. Salt water, petroleum and electricity don’t mix,” he said. “The Bayway Refinery [in New Jersey] sends out 238,000 barrels of gasoline every day, and it’s been shut down. So that’s a big reason why we’re seeing the shortages.”
There may be no relief in sight, as the region continues to recover from the effects of Hurricane Sandy and the subsequent nor’easter that hit the area. Sinclair said there is no timetable for complete restoration, and that prices have jumped as far as they have at any time since hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
“Most people aren’t talking about prices right now. They’re just happy to be getting gasoline. There has been as much as a 20-cent increase around us,” he said. “My gut says it will be a week or two until we get all the facilities back. They were pretty significantly damaged. It all hinges on when we can get these waterside terminals and refineries back up and running again.”
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