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Hundreds complain of gas gouging; utilities send help to Texas

By Mike Brassfield, Times Staff Writer
In print: Monday, September 15, 2008

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The aftermath of Hurricane Ike reached all the way to Florida on Sunday as the state investigated hundreds of complaints of price gouging at gas stations, while caravans of local utility workers headed for Texas in bucket trucks.

As of Sunday evening, the state had gotten nearly 550 complaints that Florida gas stations — including some in the Tampa Bay area — had abruptly hiked their prices, some well over $4 or even $5 a gallon.

In contrast, the statewide average price for a gallon of unleaded was $3.69 on Friday, only a cent higher than the national average, AAA reported.

Attorney General Bill McCollum said his office would subpoena records from four companies — Flying J, Dodge's Stores, Pilot Travel Centers and Valero — to see what prices they had paid for gas and what they charged customers for it.

"They can't just jack it way up," McCollum said, although he added that the companies might be reacting to price hikes from their gasoline suppliers. "We want to find out what was their rationale for increasing prices."

Dodge's Stores has a location in Dunedin, and Flying J operates a truck stop off Interstate 75 in Pasco County. Their company headquarters didn't have anyone available to comment Sunday.

McCollum said the state had gotten complaints about stations in the Tampa Bay area, Orlando, Miami and Tallahassee. People who suspect gouging can call a state hot line at (866) 966-7226 or 1-800-HELP-FLA or go online at myfloridalegal.com.

Gov. Charlie Crist sought to reassure Floridians that there's no gas shortage. "There's no need to panic," he said.

On another front, local power companies are returning the favor to Texas utilities, which helped out when Florida was hit by four hurricanes in 2004.

Progress Energy Florida sent 380 workers to Texas on Sunday, including 150 from the Tampa Bay area. TECO Power sent 70 crew members.

The workers were all heading to Beaumont, Texas, for two weeks of repairing downed power lines. The Texas utility Entergy will pay for the work.

"They left this morning at the crack of dawn in a big caravan of bucket trucks," said Progress Energy spokeswoman Cherie Jacobs. "They look like the cavalry coming down the highway."