Attorney General launches probe into rising gas prices
BINGHAMTON – New York’s attorney general announced Wednesday that he will look into whether or not there is “wrong doing” behind rising prices at the pump.
“Drivers across the Southern Tier are getting slammed at the gas pump, and have a right to know not only how gas prices are determined, but whether they’re being taken advantage of,” New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said yesterday during a press conference at his Binghamton regional office.
“On behalf of consumers, my office wants to make sure drivers’ hard-earned dollars are protected and that they are being charged fairly at gas stations.”
Over the next few months, the attorney general’s regional offices will be gathering and reviewing price information from area gas stations. “Relevant findings” will be released following the review.
“While we cannot guarantee that there is wrongdoing behind the high prices, we can assure drivers that we will study the situation to try to determine what is behind these price spikes, and go after any violations if they exist,” Schneiderman said.
According to the attorney general, the investigation was prompted by an increased number of consumer complaints regarding gas prices, which have risen more than 75 cents in the last year. The current average price for regular gas is $3.74 a gallon in New York; $3.70 in Binghamton, according to the American Automobile Association figures provided by Schneiderman’s office. Those numbers are up from $2.94 a year ago.
“At a time when the public is very skeptical about what goes on behind the scenes when determining gas prices, it is my responsibility to make sure that everyone involved in setting prices plays by the rules,” the attorney general stated.
Schneiderman said the study “will focus on how the current market volatility determines the cost of gas for retailers and subsequently whether that cost is appropriately passed onto consumers at the gas pump.”
How are gas retailers taking the news?
“This doesn’t concern me at all,” said Neil Bartle, President of Blueox Corporation. Headquartered in Oxford, the energy company has three fuel locations and 11 area gas stations and convenience stores.
“We certainly aren’t doing anything wrong.”
“Drivers across the Southern Tier are getting slammed at the gas pump, and have a right to know not only how gas prices are determined, but whether they’re being taken advantage of,” New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said yesterday during a press conference at his Binghamton regional office.
“On behalf of consumers, my office wants to make sure drivers’ hard-earned dollars are protected and that they are being charged fairly at gas stations.”
Over the next few months, the attorney general’s regional offices will be gathering and reviewing price information from area gas stations. “Relevant findings” will be released following the review.
“While we cannot guarantee that there is wrongdoing behind the high prices, we can assure drivers that we will study the situation to try to determine what is behind these price spikes, and go after any violations if they exist,” Schneiderman said.
According to the attorney general, the investigation was prompted by an increased number of consumer complaints regarding gas prices, which have risen more than 75 cents in the last year. The current average price for regular gas is $3.74 a gallon in New York; $3.70 in Binghamton, according to the American Automobile Association figures provided by Schneiderman’s office. Those numbers are up from $2.94 a year ago.
“At a time when the public is very skeptical about what goes on behind the scenes when determining gas prices, it is my responsibility to make sure that everyone involved in setting prices plays by the rules,” the attorney general stated.
Schneiderman said the study “will focus on how the current market volatility determines the cost of gas for retailers and subsequently whether that cost is appropriately passed onto consumers at the gas pump.”
How are gas retailers taking the news?
“This doesn’t concern me at all,” said Neil Bartle, President of Blueox Corporation. Headquartered in Oxford, the energy company has three fuel locations and 11 area gas stations and convenience stores.
“We certainly aren’t doing anything wrong.”
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