GREENWICH DELEGATION CALLS FOR BAN ON ZONE PRICING OF GAS

HARTFORD- Greenwich State Reps. Lile Gibbons (R-150), Livvy Floren (R-149) and Fred Camillo (R-151) are dismayed the state legislature refuses to address the issue of gasoline zone pricing which forces Greenwich to pay the highest gas prices in Connecticut.

“Zone pricing comes down to equity across the state. Once the gas is in the pipe, prices should be equal since there is no marginal or incremental delivery cost. That is all we are asking for with this ban,” said Rep. Floren.

The bill HB-6518, An Act Concerning the Fair Pricing of Gasoline has been sitting on the House of Representatives calendar for weeks and has yet to be debated.

The bill prohibits, businesses furnishing gasoline to resellers or retail gas stations from setting prices based on geographic location or using a system preventing them from setting equal prices across the state. The exceptions are price modifications for transportation costs, volume discounts, and loans or financial accommodations to a station.

The bill requires businesses furnishing gasoline to maintain written or electronic records for at least five years and allows the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) commissioner or the attorney general to inspect them. The records must include the dates and times of sales, names of sellers and purchasers, delivery or purchase locations, and volume discounts. The bill authorizes the attorney general to bring a civil action against violators to recover civil penalties up to $ 25,000 per violation and equitable relief.

Rep. Gibbons said, “Fairfield County residents have the highest gas prices in the state and Greenwich drivers pay the most. This bill would help lower our gas prices at the pump and is a start in equalizing gas pricing throughout the state.”

Rep. Fred Camillo who is a freshman legislator from Cos Cob said he wonders why the legislature refuses to debate this bill. “It’s an issue of fairness, the Fairfield County legislators, both Republican and Democrat, stand united against this un-American practice. Our local businesses bear the tough burden of selling the most expensive gas in the state with out any choice and it hurts their bottom line selling other products as drivers gas up out of town.”