Asheville News

Jobbers exacerbate gas crunch in Asheville

Jason Sandford September 24, 2008

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

The Christian Science Monitor weighs in on the Asheville gas crunch:

In Alabama, legislators introduced a new law to crack down on price gouging by limiting price discrepancies in emergencies to 15 percent and raising fines to $5,000.

But Mr. Baen, the UNT industry expert, says tough stances on price gouging may have exacerbated the shortage as jobbers focused on getting gas to areas that were easier – and cheaper – to reach. Without financial incentive to get to outlying areas, those pumps simply remained dry.

That’s what seems to have happened in the mountain city of Asheville, N.C. With many independent dealers and jobbers facing long distances over steep grades, distributors with limited supplies chose their routes based on what was expedient – and profitable.

As a result, the city of Asheville cancelled several events. Landscapers, florists, and plumbers all declined work for lack of gas.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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1 Comment

Max Randall September 24, 2008

Had to sneak into South Carolina today in search of gasoline. Happened upon a service station near Greer. Guy in front of me was from Asheville and commented that his friend had placed a call to the NC governor’s office. Ask if the governor was taking any action to aid WNC in its gas crisis? Voice on the other end responded " that is not a concern of the governor’s office, it is a commercial problem." Pass this along, please. I believe we in the WNC need to bombard the governor’s office with phone calls, emails, and faxes to the point that the system locks up.

To everyone in WNC, be nice to your neighbor during this shortage. It looks like we will have to look out for ourselves, and Let’s show Raleigh that you don’t piss off the folks in the west.

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