Feb. 9, 2009 — Seventeen St. Croix gas stations got fined Monday for price gouging, Government House said today.
Inspectors from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs issued fines against the operators of the stations after it was discovered that they increased prices on gasoline in anticipation of a planned increase in the Hovensa rack rate of gasoline and diesel fuel set to take effect Tuesday.
George Flores of Whim was among those who spotted the price gouging Monday, calling friends, officials and radio shows to highlight the matter.
"They just raised all the prices today before the new price takes effect, before they've even bought any fuel at the new price," Flores said.
DLCA is taking a hard stance on the matter.
"These unscrupulous gasoline-station operators are taking advantage of consumers because they did not purchase fuel at a different price to what they already have in inventory," DLCA Commissioner Kenrick Robertson said Monday.
He characterized the round of price increases as outrageous, dishonest and not justified, and said that each station found in violation will receive a citation for the maximum amount allowed by law.
"We have no choice but to reinstate measures we instituted in June last year to prevent gasoline wholesalers and retailers from raising prices unless they can prove that they made purchases at a higher price," Robertson said. Consumers can expect DLCA to keep a watchful eye on businesses that attempt to fleece and deceive the public in ways that were witnessed today, he said..
The 17 gasoline stations found in violation of predatory pricing:
A&H Service Station
Amigos Service Station
Budget Gas Station
Capital Service Station
Exxcel Service Station
Gas For Less & Mini Mart
Gateway Service Station
Get N' Service Station
La Reine Service Station
Karim Service Station
Lower Love Service Station
Nu Way Gas Station
Quickserve Service Station
7 Days Service Station & Mini Mart
Sion Farm Service Station
Speedy Gas
Royal Service Station
Hovensa announced Monday that on Tuesday it will increase its rack rates. The price of regular gasoline will increase by 24 cents per gallon of regular gasoline, 25 cents on premium and 7.5 cents on diesel.
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