Gas Prices in the Ohio Valley

Here we are, the holiday season upon us and wouldn't you know it, gas prices are on the rise again. Now we have heard all sorts of excuses ranging from refinery problems to increasing demand and even one source said something ridiculous to the effect that the hike could be because winter is approaching.

"People are starting to fill their tanks up for the winter, so the fact that a lot of the crude oil being processed is converted to meeting fuel oil needs, that tends to put a little pressure on the price of gasoline too"

That comment came from Dr. Chase, Chair of the Petroleum Engineering and Geology Department at Marietta College. Now I am no professor and I am certainly not an expert in the field of economics, but does it not seem rather odd that back in May and June of this year we saw the same type of increase? And that was the beginning of summer where gas, the primary use for heating homes, was no where in demand . Well wait, it may have been in demand, it's called summer vacation travel. Much like now is a great time for traveling to Grandmas over the river and though the woods. What would it cost now to travel to good old grandmas for the holidays to enjoy a nice turkey dinner? Well let's see....

Right now the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, not even the good stuff is $3.19. That means the average driver is paying about $0.17 for each mile they travel. That means if Grandma lives in say Myrtle Beach (I will use this as an example just because it's also a favorite destination for summer vacation travel) and you had a vehicle that got approximately say 18 – 19 miles per gallon, it would cost you right around $218 - $220 to drive there, not even round trip. For that price you could by a round trip plane ticket. A year ago, the average price was $2.22, meaning today it costs about $13 more to fill up a 15-gallon tank than it did a year ago.

Now that the price of a barrel of crude oil is well on its way to $100, what do we do as the end consumer who is getting gouged? Not much unfortunately, but here are a few tips we have come across:

- Walk, bike, take a bus, or carpool when possible.

Use your car only when necessary. Public transportation authorities often have carpooling information as well as transit services. If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets the best gas mileage whenever possible.

-Combine errands into one trip.

Consolidate trips to destinations that are near one another. Once you arrive, park and walk between destinations. Save errands for one afternoon and plan your trip so you don't retrace your route. You not only save gas this way, but reduce wear-and tear on your car.

-Drive your car wisely and maintain it properly.

The way you drive and take care of your car can make a big difference in your gas mileage.

What can I do to get better gas mileage when I drive?

You can greatly improve your mileage by having your car serviced regularly and by driving wisely. Any of these eight points can help improve your mileage:

-Go easy on the brakes and gas pedal. Avoid "jackrabbit" starts by accelerating gradually whenever possible. Also, anticipate stops to avoid sudden braking.

-Avoid long idles. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a lengthy wait. Instead of idling at a drive-up window, park the car and go in. Idling burns more gas than restarting the engine. Limit car warm-ups in winter.

-Avoid carrying unneeded items in the trunk. Extra weight decreases gas mileage. Also, reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks.

-Avoid high speeds. You can improve your gas mileage about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.

Experts in the field of energy conservation believe consumers are no longer shocked by $3 gas. Well I for one am very shocked that after some of the huge oil companies posted unremarkable gains in the last two quarters would have the audacity to even attempt such a stunt. The word gouging comes to mind.

Gouging could be curbed significantly if the US Senate would get off there asses though and do something for the American public. There is a bill, H.R. 1252, that if passed would help us back against companies or persons who sell crude oil, gasoline, or other petroleum products at prices that unfairly take advantage of unusual market conditions or the circumstances of an emergency. The only problem with this Bill is that it has gone almost nowhere since May 2007. This bill has been passed in the House on May 23rd 2007. The bill now goes on to be voted on in the Senate which obviously it has not. After it gets passed by the Senate, if it ever does, it goes on to be signed by the President. Our wonderful President George Bush and his family just so happens to be ridiculously rich off of, you guessed it, OIL.

What do you think about the gas prices? We could start a gas price tracker like a local news station has, but would it really do any good? Know any good tips to try and conserve a little bit? Let us know.