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Chattanooga: Regular returns to local pumps

By: Brian Lazenby
(Contact)

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Mike DuPree

Regular unleaded has returned to the pumps, and fuel industry experts said premium and mid-grade fuels will follow soon.

Also, prices should start coming down as well, officials said.

Randy Bly, community relations director at AAA Auto Club South, said he has received reports that almost all Chattanooga gas stations have regular, but there are a few that still do not have higher grades.

“There is already normality with regular grades,” he said. “That usually comes back first, and the premium grades will follow.”

The Southeast has been plagued with fuel shortages for several weeks after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav damaged Gulf Coast or shut down refineries in September.

Officials said the pipelines that deliver gas to the area are up and running, and suppliers are working to get their customers stocked with fuel.

Mike DuPree, general manager of DuPree Oil, said he had 29 customers out of gas last week, but he is being allocated 27,000 gallons a day from Citgo.

“This week we have been able to pull everyday, so we are gaining on it,” he said. “We are still on allocation, but we are able to get product.”

Officials said the focus is on getting stations supplied with regular unleaded, but Mr. DuPree said supplies of premium are improving too.

“It doesn’t seem to be the issue it was 10 days ago,” he said, noting that there is likely still a premium supply shortage because the wholesale price of the grade is still 16 cents higher here than it is on the New York market.

Jim Winters, owner of the Citgo station at Hickory Avenue and East 23rd Street, said he was out of diesel over the weekend, but that has changed.

“I’m full,” he said. “I have all grades of fuel and diesel.”

Brianna Hawthorne, 46, who pumped gas at Mr. Winters’ Citgo station on Tuesday, said she is relieved to see fuel supplies back.

“It’s finally got to where you don’t have to drive all over town to find it,” she said.

Oil prices hovered around $90 a barrel for much of the day Tuesday, leading industry experts to believe area consumers will start getting some relief.

“I think you will continue to see the price drop down,” Mr. DuPree said.

According to a report published by the Oil Price Information Service, American motorists are driving fewer miles than in years past, which should cause price dips to stick, officials said.

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