Gas prices in the Chattanooga area are trending higher in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline explosion in Alabama that has disrupted the flow of fuel, with some stations hiking fuel by 10 cents on Wednesday.
AAA's fuel gauge report Wednesday morning showed that the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded rose two cents from the day before to $1.96 in Chattanooga. Across Tennessee, the price was $2.04 per gallon, up one cent.
In Georgia, the price was up three cents for a gallon of regular unleaded, selling for $2.18, according to AAA.
Steve Ray of the Midnight Oil station in Ooltewah noted that some major fuel outlets upped their pump prices by a dime, though he keep his stable.
What happens to prices in the future will depend on how fast the pipeline company can restore the flow, he said.
The pipeline, which stretches from New York to Houston, Texas, provides gasoline for an estimated 50 million people.
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has declared a state of emergency for that state due to Monday's explosion and fire at the Shelby County pipeline.
A release from the Governor's website stated the state of emergency is effective through Dec. 1, unless sooner terminated.
In September, a problem with the same pipeline caused some Chattanooga area fuel stations to go dry as gasoline supplies tightened.
At that time, pump prices locally jumped nearly 20 cents a gallon in a week to an average of $2.15 for regular unleaded.
Nearly 600 complaints about high gas prices were registered with the state, though most of those were around Nashville, according to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
In the Chattanooga area, convenience stores without gas were found from Hixson Pike to Signal Mountain Road and Amnicola Highway to North Georgia.