News 12 at 11 o'clock, September 15, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga. --- Oil prices have closed below 100 dollars for the first time in 6 months, but so far it's not helping the prices at the pump. The power is out from hurricane Ike so workers aren't pumping as much fuel. And some refineries are damaged. So is a major fuel pipeline; the one that brings a lot of our fuel to the area.

Most of us simply want to know - when will all this end? When will gas get back to a bearable price? That could take a few more days but until then there's something we can all do. We can quit panicking and quit filling up our tanks.

Alan Freeman has already added more air to his tires for better gas mileage. Other than that he knows there's only so much he can do.
"I think they really need to do something about it," says Freeman.

And most people agree. But the local gas situation is diffucult to follow.
Here's why. The cheapest advertised price News12 found is located on Gordon Hwy at $3.77, but looks can be deceiving. With plastic bags covering the handles of all of the pumps, it appears that station is out of gas. Checking out Columbia county, there is gas there, but it will cost - - about 5.29 per gallon.

So when can we expect to see some relief? When will the price go down and when will we get more gas?

"Once our refineries go down, it takes them seven days to get up and running,"says John Butler with Koger Walters Oil. "So we're looking at a good two weeks before things begin to pick up."

Butler adds that there are two ways we can control the situation -price and allocation. The price per gallon can go up and drivers can get unlimited quantities or you can get a capped amount - say 20 dollars for example - and there's plenty for everyone to get through this According to AAA's website, today is recorded as the highest average price per gallon for regular unleaded in the Augusta area ever.