Investigation Into Alaska's Soaring Gasoline Prices Called
For
Alaska's Prices 75 Cents Higher than National Average
August 11, 2008
Monday
Anchorage Senators Bill Wielechowski (D) and Bettye Davis (D)
today called for an investigation into the price of gasoline
in Alaska, which is the highest in the nation.
The two senators called on Attorney General Talis Colberg to
probe why prices in Alaska are about 75 cents above the national
average, when Alaska has one of the lowest gasoline taxes in
the nation and most of the gas used here is produced locally.
"How is that people in Wichita, Kansas, pay 84 cents less
for a gallon of gas than we do in Anchorage, when their gas tax
is three times ours," Senator Wielechowski said today. "Alaskan
drivers deserve to know why they're paying so much for fuel.
Are we getting gouged?"
Nationally the average price for gasoline is $3.88/gallon. In
Alaska, the average is $4.62/gallon, with costs higher than $6/gallon
in some rural areas.
"For the average Alaskan who drives to work and picks their
kids up from school, these prices are staggering," Senator
Davis said. "Consumers are feeling pinched. We need to find
out what's happening, why the prices are so high."
Senator Wielechowski noted that the average price of gas in Anchorage
was $2.95/gallon just one year ago. The average price nationally
at that time was $2.82. Since then the gap has widened.
"Soaring prices at the pump are putting pressure on a lot
of people. We need to know the truth about why they're so inflated."
Source of News:
Alaska Legislature
www.legis.state.ak.us
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