Pump Patrol: Gas prices continue upward trend as drivers seek best deals on LI

All eyes are on prices and supply after the Colonial Pipeline Company announced Wednesday that operations have restarted following the hacking shutdown.

News 12 Staff

May 13, 2021, 11:52 AM

Updated 1,304 days ago

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Gas prices have been on the rise for weeks, and Long Island commuters are out to get their tanks filled before prices go up even further.
New York's average gas price is up to $3.04 as of Thursday. Suffolk's average price matches the statewide amount, while Nassau is at $3.03, according to AAA.
New York's average gas price has jumped 2 cents since Wednesday and 7 cents since last week.
All eyes are on prices and supply after the Colonial Pipeline Company announced Wednesday that operations have restarted following the hacking shutdown.
The shutdown had led four states to declare states of emergency because the Colonial Pipeline transports gas from Texas to New Jersey and supplies about 45% of fuel to the East Coast.
The shutdown also forced at least one gas station on Long Island to limit how much gas drivers were getting due to fear of a limited supply.
In Oyster Bay, most locations had gas prices at around $2.95. The Speedway on Pine Hollow Road actually ran out of gas for a short time Wednesday night. One employee says it was because people started to panic and were coming to the station all at once. The shortage was rectified in about an hour.
Edward Curry was one of the surprised motorists that went to fill up his tank and nothing came out.
"It was just wild," says Curry. "And then everyone ran to the next station down the street."
The shortage at Speedway was rectified in about an hour.
High fuel prices are also making it hard for business owners who need to drive for a living.
"I'm a landscaper and I'm usually getting a lot of diesel to get around," says Mike Ricciardi, of Ricciardi Landscaping. "So what are we gonna do? We raise up the prices and then people say bye, bye and they get the cheaper guys."
Some of the lower end of prices found on Long Island were about $2.69 at stations in Nassau and Suffolk.
News 12 is asking viewers to help us find the cheapest gas in our area. You can add to our list here.