By Erin Smith
Governor Roy Cooper has enacted North Carolina’s Price Gouging Law in the wake of the devastation caused in Texas and Louisiana by Hurricane Harvey. The storm has left refineries and pipelines in and around Houston, Texas closed until damage can be assessed and any repairs made. This is having an impact on gas supplies along the East coast and in our area.
The pain is already being felt at the gas pump. It has been reported by alert citizens gas prices climbed as high as $3 per gallon on Thursday in Bladen County then dropped slightly during the evening hours.
With the news of damage to refineries and pipelines in the Houston area and the possibility of limited gasoline supplies have prompted Gov. Roy Cooper to activate North Carolina’s price gouging law. The price gouging law prohibits businesses from overcharging during times of crisis. The executive order notes the law will be in effect for the next 45 days.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with those suffering from Harvey and its aftermath, and North Carolina is doing everything we can to help,” said Governor Cooper. “This executive order will help essential supplies get to flood victims as soon as possible, while also keeping fuel flowing here in North Carolina.”
Gov. Cooper has also declared a state of emergency which allows for the waiver of restrictions on the number of hours fuel vehicles traveling into and through North Carolina can operate. This will help to ensure fuel supplies are reaching distributors in a timely manner. Gov. Cooper has also reached out to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asking them to waive certain restrictions as well. The waivers were granted on Thursday, according to Gov. Cooper’s office.
According to reports, 13 refineries located along the Gulf Coast have had to either shut down or severely cut back their operations due to flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. The reports state that Hurricane Harvey has knocked out more than one-fifth of the nation’s refining capacity.
The Colonial Pipeline Company ships supplies of diesel and aviation fuel as well as gasoline to the East Coast of the Untied States through Pipelines 1 and 2. There are 26 refineries which connect to the Colonial Pipeline system. Of those 26, the company says 13 are located between Houston and Lake Charles. La., which are areas that were located directly in the path of Hurricane Harvey.
In a press release from the Colonial Pipeline Company, it states Colonial’s Lines 1 and 2 from Lake Charles, La. are operating but deliveries will be “intermittent and dependent on terminal and refinery supply.”
The release also notes the Colonial Pipeline Company’s lines remain down from Houston to Hebert due to the storm.
“We currently estimate that we will be able to return to service from Houston Sunday, following an evaluation of our infrastructure and successful execution of our start up plan,” reads the press release.
We will report more on this situation as we get it. North Carolinians who spot potential gas price gouging may report it to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office at ncdoj.gov or 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
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