Half-gallon pricing to be allowed in Pa.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - May 23, 2008 Some older gas pumps can't display a price above $3.99. So,
Pennsylvania is joining other states in allowing gas stations with
those older pumps to temporarily have the pump set to the price for
half a gallon of gas, Gov. Ed Rendell's office announced Friday.
"Most retail fuel stations in Pennsylvania can display
per-gallon prices over $4, but we will accommodate those that
cannot, allowing business to continue and ensuring consumers get
what they pay for," Rendell said in a statement.
The price on the pump is multiplied by two before the customer
pays. The price of a full gallon has to be on the sign drivers see
from the street.
The state estimates that fewer than 500 gas pumps statewide have
this problem, Rendell's office said. To get permission for
half-gallon pricing, Pennsylvania gas stations must order an
upgrade kit that will allow the pump to display and compute unit
prices of $4 per gallon and higher.
Half-gallon pricing was in widespread use decades ago, when the
price of gas went above $1 for the first time.
The daily Mid-Atlantic AAA survey shows that regular unleaded
gasoline was selling above $4 per gallon Friday morning from at
least 45 stations in the five-county Philadelphia area.
The highest was $4.299 at a Lukoil station in New Hope, Bucks
County, but AAA said that figure and the prices at other stations
likely will change throughout the day and weekend.
AAA has found prices in excess of $4 gallon as average in seven
states - Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois,
Michigan and New York, spokeswoman Catherine Rossi said. The
highest price is in Alaska, where gas is averaging a $4.18 gallon,
Rossi said.
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On the Net:
Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Pennsylvania:
http://www.aaamidatlantic.com/Outreach/GasInfo
Half-gallon pricing: http://tinyurl.com/4ffcuc
