Why are gas prices higher in Aiken?

Aiken gas prices are higher than the national average.

Motorists may see the occasional station sporting plastic bags on their gas pumps, but it seems the shortage has almost corrected itself.

As the end is in sight and gas stations seem to be back to normal, many question why one gas station over another has replenished supplies and why are we paying more than the national average?

On Tuesday it appeared gas stations on the north side of Aiken were the last to return to normal with many still out of mid-grade and premium grade gasoline and a handful still completely dry, while most stations on the Southside were operating as normal.

First, the oil is distributed by terminals and they determine who receives gasoline first.

"A lot of it is determined by who owns the station, whether it is a oil company or an independent," said Tom Crosby, vice president of communications for AAA Carolinas. "They are producing enough regular that all areas should have gas."

Why are we paying more?

"We are suffering a hurricane hangover," said Crosby. "There were 55 wells damaged, and the biggest refinery in the Gulf is still not up and running. We are operating close to the edge and that is keeping our prices much higher than the rest of the nation."

"Prices may go down but not fast enough to catch the national average. Right now that is not going to happen," said Crosby. "The national average is $3.48. The average in South Carolina is $3.667."

What about ethanol gasoline?

Crosby confirmed that some stations in the region are using this time as an opportunity to convert to the use of ethanol gasoline.

"South Carolina is one of the states that approved the use of ethanol. Some are converting but not all are doing it. The issue is whether we are being charged the same amount," he said.

E10 is a grain alcohol blended with conventional gasoline in a mixture of 10 percent ethanol to 90 percent gasoline, but, while usually offered at a lower retail price to the consumer, it does not attain the same miles per gallon.

Local service stations were unavailable for comment at presstime.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.