Published: September 26, 2008 08:47 am      

Presentation still short on answers, many attendees say

Some liked it, others did not. West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw’s presentation regarding gasoline prices in the Beckley area received mixed reviews from those in the crowd Thursday.

“I learned some thing I was not aware of, like the price surveys of gasoline stations along the Turnpike,” said Beckley Common Council member Frank Williams. “But I still don’t understand why gas is so much higher in Beckley.”

Williams wasn’t the only person that didn’t understand why Beckley prices are so high.

“I thought their answers were not specific enough,” said Eugene Ashe of Beckley. “I’m glad they came, but the presentation just seemed to fall apart at the end.”

Ashe wondered why the same gas purchased and in the ground selling for one price could sudden jump up at the pump the following day.

“It’s the same gas, purchased for the same price, but they raise the prices anyway,” he said. “I don’t understand.”

Ed Rucker of Grandview said you can drive to Rainelle and get gasoline up to 20 cents cheaper.

“Isn’t it coming from the same refinery?” Rucker asked. “Also, why do all the stations have the same exact price within minutes of one going up or coming down.”

Beckley Mayor Emmett Pugh, who also attended the event, said he believed Beckley’s prices are higher because of the lack of competition from independent gas retailers.

“It’s all controlled by Go-Mart, Little General and One Stop,” Pugh said. “There are hardly any independents to help control prices.”

The only independent gasoline station in Beckley is Don Brown’s Exxon on Robert C. Byrd Drive.

Doug Davis, with the state Attorney General’s Office, said the agency has received well over 200 complaint calls regarding gasoline.

McGraw said some of the complaints included people saying they had to choose between food or gasoline to survive.

“They need the gasoline to get to work, but they need to ea, too,” he said. “Gasoline has become a major issue in our country and it’s affecting the price of everything.”

McGraw said his office has launched an investigation into the high prices of gasoline statewide.

“This is why the Attorney General’s Office is investigating these complaints that some gasoline retailers may be violating West Virginia’s gas gouging laws,” he said.

McGraw told the audience at the Raleigh County Commission on Aging that his office has issued subpoenas to gasoline retailers seeking invoices and information to determine whether such price hikes were illegal.

West Virginia’s gas gouging law went into effect Sept. 12 when Gov. Joe Manchin declared a state of emergency. That allows the state to respond to requests to help Hurricane Ike victims and is effective through Oct. 12, McGraw explained.

“Keeping gasoline prices down is going to be a battle,” McGraw said. “That is why I’m here today to ask for the public’s help in reporting unreasonable gasoline prices or other possible price gouging or collusion activities. It’s going to take everyone’s help in finding the answers to some of these questions and concerns.”

The latest American Automobile Association’s (AAA) weekly fuel gauge report and westvirginiagasprices.com showed Beckley, Huntington and Charleston had the highest price in the state at an average price of $3.99 a gallon for regular brand. The lowest price was found in Martinsburg and Weirton at $3.54 a gallon for regular.

Over 100 people attended the event.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com