State Web site to monitor gas prices --In two weeks, drivers can check local price ranges

www.lsj.com Published 3/22/2003 By Chris Andrews Lansing State Journal

On the Web

• www.michigan.gov, a Web site tracking gasoline prices, is expected to be available within the next two weeks.

State officials announced plans Friday for a new

Web site enabling motorists to track gasoline prices in their communities.

State officials said that gasoline prices - which dropped Friday after sharp increases in recent weeks - remain volatile now that the war with Iraq is under way.

"It really depends on events and how things go. Tomorrow, something very bad could happen, and we could see crude oil prices jump up," said Jeffrey Pillon, manager of energy data and security for the Michigan Public Service Commission. "Currently things seem to be going well."

Gasoline prices increased dramatically over the past several months as the nation edged closer to war. The average price of gasoline statewide on Monday was $1.77 a gallon for unleaded self-serve, compared with $1.35 a gallon in December.

Prices at some stations on Friday were as low as $1.61.

There are other positive signs on the horizon. Saudi Arabia and Venezuela have increased production, and the U.S. strategic reserves offer a supply if needed.

"The prices were significantly influenced because of the psychological uncertainty that was driving the market thinking about the prospect of war," Pillon said. "When that uncertainty was eliminated, prices began to come back down."

State officials say there have been no signs of the type of gas-gouging that occurred after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

The new Web site, www.michigan.gov/gasprices, will make use of a database created from credit card payments made at gasoline stations around the state, said state Agriculture Director Dan Wyant. The site is expected to be operating within two weeks.

The database collection will cost the state about $16,000.

The site will allow motorists to track the range of gasoline prices in their communities either by city or by ZIP code. It will not give the prices at individual stations.

Last year, Michigan residents purchased 4.8 billion gallons of gasoline.

State officials said there are no signs that motorists have been driving less because of higher gasoline prices.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Mike Cox warned Michigan gas stations of the harsh penalties associated with gouging consumers during a time of war.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Attorney General's Office charged more than 40 retailers with grossly excessive pricing. The cases were settled with stations refunding consumers who had been overcharged.

Contact Chris Andrews at 377-1054 or candrews@lsj.com