Price of gas

[Toad]

Have you changed your habit because of the rising price of gas? I filled up this morning with regular unleaded and it was over $65! That will last till Sunday, maybe.

[Donna]

I haven't changed habits yet, but groan when I fill it as my car requires premium (according to the manual). My neighbor traded her car for a hybrid and now saves a ton on gas. I feel safer in a sturdier car though, so I'll have to keep paying the price.

[Non Member]

Have you changed your habit because of the rising price of gas? I filled up this morning with regular unleaded and it was over $65! That will last till Sunday, maybe.
Do you drive a Hummer, Toad?

[Toad]

Do you drive a Hummer, Toad?

No, but I would like to have one of the old style Hummers, not the H2.

[d-o-b]

Have you changed your habit because of the rising price of gas? I filled up this morning with regular unleaded and it was over $65! That will last till Sunday, maybe.
shut!! what do you drive??????? :eek:

[Mike Brady]

My wife and I drove the truck up to Palm Coast, 4 gas ups in 3 days, gas is 2.72 to 2.79 up there. 54.00 to 62.00 each tank

[happydad]

I drive a Saturn and my wife has a Honda Odyssey. Fortunately, both our commutes are a fraction of what they were a couple years ago, so although I hate the price increase it hasn't impacted us.

I do chuckle (read "snicker") when I see Hummers around town. Nobody ever said status symbols were cheap.

[Toad]

shut!! what do you drive??????? :eek:

It doesn't take a huge truck to by 25 gallons at $2.60+ per gallon = $65. Mine is a run of the mill SUV.

[happydad]

It doesn't take a huge truck to by 25 gallons at $2.60+ per gallon = $65. Mine is a run of the mill SUV.

It's not the size of the fill, it's the rate of consumption, right? You used to pay $65.00 every two weeks, now it's every 4-5 days? Ouch. That's all I gotta say.

[Toad]

I drive a Saturn and my wife has a Honda Odyssey. Fortunately, both our commutes are a fraction of what they were a couple years ago, so although I hate the price increase it hasn't impacted us.

I do chuckle (read "snicker") when I see Hummers around town. Nobody ever said status symbols were cheap.


Ok frequency of buying the 25 gallons is another matter. I pull a horse trailer on occasion and have the biggest engine I could buy so mpg is enough to make any tree hugger cringe. I just bought a new car for my wife yesterday and it has one of those computers that calculates average mpg while driving. She was getting 28 mpg. I doubt I get half that.

[Toad]

It's not the size of the fill, it's the rate of consumption, right? You used to pay $65.00 every two weeks, now it's every 4-5 days? Ouch. That's all I gotta say.

Wow we are typing and thinking at the exact time. Your point is correct. It's the $65 every four or five days that hurts.

[Tubby]

I fill up every 3-4 days, 20+ gallons every time. The last time it cost just under $60 to fill up. The good news "Company Credit Card".

[Donna]

My bmw is decent on mileage. I drive quite a bit for work as I make house calls. I am at the various schools often as well (school visits with clients employed by Broward County schools). Commissions on the investments hasn't increased but the cost of doing business has. For the big clients I don't notice as much. However, I met a new teacher the other day who is investing the minimum amount. I think I make $4 a month off that.

[d-o-b]

The good news "Company Credit Card".
I miss those days.... :mad:

[Toad]

Well at least we aren't suffering as bad as some other countries.


For Europeans, gas prices are out of this world

By George Jahn
The Associated Press
Posted August 27 2005
VIENNA, Austria · While U.S. motorists complain at having to pay $2.60 a gallon, the relentless surge of oil prices is leading to even more colossal gas pains for Europeans who were paying much more than Americans even before crude began climbing.

The painful price increases have led to some changes in European driving habits.

Germans are tanking up on home-heating fuel. Poles are crossing the border to Ukraine to buy cheaper fuel. And Swedish motorists are flocking to a southwestern town where price wars have made gas about 30 percent cheaper than the national average of $5.66 a gallon.

Swedish gas is still cheap in comparison with the Netherlands. There, a gallon of premium costs $6.56.

Still, some Europeans grimace and bear it.

"We accept a lot," said Egil Otter of the Norwegian Automobile Association about the high cost of driving, including premium gas prices at $6.46 a gallon. "When costs go up for car use people don't drive less. They just cut costs in other areas."

Even before the oil shock, pricey gas in Europe was a reality because of high taxes used to fund government projects and encourage people to use public transportation.

In Norway, for instance, a 100 percent tax on new cars doubles what might otherwise be the sticker price.

Dutch gas, at $6.56 a gallon, is more than twice what Americans have to pay. Nearly two-thirds of that, however, are taxes and duties. Strip away the surcharges and it would cost about $2.47 a gallon.

German, French, Italian, Belgian, Portuguese, Swedish and British drivers pay nearly as much as the Dutch, again with taxes making up the bulk of the burden.

At close to $4 a gallon -- Latvians, who pay the least within the 25-nation European Union, still fork up more than a third more at the pump than the average American.

Compounding the pain are wages that are in most cases lower than those of Americans. The prosperous Swedes, for instance, earn the equivalent of about $36,000 a year, which is still several thousand dollars short of what Americans take home on average.

On the lower end of the scale is Hungary, where gas at $5.28 a gallon takes a painful chunk out of the average yearly paycheck of $11,440.

So Europe's drivers improvise.

While tough customs enforcement has cut down on gas smuggling from Ukraine and Romania to Hungary, Hungarians near those countries regularly drive over the borders to fill up with cheaper gas there -- as do Germans in Poland and Poles in Ukraine.

"I go about three times a month," said Berlin taxi driver Roman Grasse, of his 60-mile trips to Polish pumps.

German police have started pulling over diesel-burning cars to ensure they are not powered by home-heating fuel -- essentially the same substance but taxed at a much lower rate and colored so the two can be told apart.

In southwestern Sweden, the town of Trollhattan, where Saabs are made, has become even more of a draw to car owners because a price war among service stations has driven gas prices more than 30 percent below the average.

[Tubby]

I was reading a simular article the other day. I'm sure we will see the $3/gallon for regular before long.

[d-o-b]

In Venezuela the price is $0.15 per gallon.....

[Toad]

That is government subsidized. It's always good to be an oil exporting nation :)

In Venezuela the price is $0.15 per gallon.....

[Tubby]

This is only a statement I found interesting and WILL NOT START a discussion on politics.

The other article indicated a Boeing 747-200B with a tail number 2800 or 2900 fuel cost per hour a year ago $3000 per hour to operate and now it cost over $6000 per hour.

No wonder the airlines are having problems.

[Eco Stiff]

In Venezuela the price is $0.15 per gallon.....

Isn't Citgo owned by the Venezuelan Government?

[d-o-b]

Isn't Citgo owned by the Venezuelan Government?
Yeap, by the Venezuela Petroleum Company, PDVSA.

[Toad]

About a year back all the employees of PDVSA walked off the job in protest of Chavez. I had a tanker sitting offshore waiting to load for over a week. The gov't had no idea how to run the equipment, and for a while it was a huge mess.

Yeap, by the Venezuela Petroleum Company, PDVSA.

[Toad]

Katrina will spike the price of gas starting today. All the production and refineries in the gulf are being shut down.

[Tubby]

Katrina will spike the price of gas starting today. All the production and refineries in the gulf are being shut down.

You're full of good news this morning.

[d-o-b]

and for a while it was a huge mess.
still........

[d-o-b]

Katrina will spike the price of gas starting today.
that monster is going to do more than that!!!

[Tubby]

that monster is going to do more than that!!!

I think you're right, I would hope everyone gets out and no hurricane party. Watching our trees blow in 50 MPH winds, they would never last in 75 MPH winds. Katrina could make hit the coast line with 138+ MPH winds, good luck New Orleans or ??????.

[Toad]

If you live in NOLA it's time to run Forest run!

that monster is going to do more than that!!!

[d-o-b]

impressive!!!!!!!!!

[Toad]

The image is a thing of beauty in it's own way. I hope it down grades before land fall.

impressive!!!!!!!!!

[Toad]

:eek: August 30, 2005
Fuel supply uncertainties surface in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; how you can help

En español

We’re carefully monitoring the fuel supply we need to generate electricity and urge you to use electricity wisely due to the uncertainty of fuel availability caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Although we have enough power to meet the needs of our customers presently, we’re encouraging wide use of energy conservation while the full impact of Hurricane Katrina on Gulf of Mexico fuel production is assessed.

It’s been reported that 90 percent of the Gulf’s production of natural gas is unavailable. We rely on natural gas for 38 percent of our fuel to produce electricity. Although we have the flexibility to switch fuels at some of our power plants, the uncertainty of the length of time that natural gas production may be interrupted is causing us to urge customers to conserve.

Our voluntary appeal to conserve energy follows a declared state-wide Generating Capacity Advisory from the Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC) today. The Advisory was issued as a public, state-wide appeal for conservation of electricity due to the shutting down of the natural gas production facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.

As a precautionary measure, we’re asking you to take voluntary energy conservation measures now, not only as a way to lower your electric use and your bill, but to lower the impact of what may become a fuel shortage as a result of Hurricane Katrina’s impact to fuel production in the Gulf of Mexico.

We’re requesting you take the following energy conservation measures:

Set the thermostat at 78 degrees or warmer. Set the thermostat fan switch on “auto.” Keep temperature readings constant until notified that the fuel uncertainty has passed.
When away from home, raise thermostats to 82 degrees or warmer.
Close curtains and blinds to help insulate homes and buildings against cooling loss.
Avoid using room air conditioners or turn them off when you leave the room or your home.
Reduce use of all non-essential electric appliances, such as dishwashers and clothes dryers, especially during the late afternoon and early evening.
Turn off all non-essential lighting and electric appliances, such as pool pumps and sprinkler systems.
In addition to this public appeal for voluntary conservation, we’ll implement pre-arranged, energy management programs for participating customers, turning off pool pumps and water heaters through our On-Call residential program. (As a reminder, those of you participating in the residential On-Call program receive a monthly reduction on electric bills.)

Water heaters and pool pumps normally are turned off for no more than four hours per day.

Central air conditioning systems, usually a part of the On-Call residential program, will not be interrupted today.

In addition to On-Call, pre-selected electrical equipment at the premises of participating commercial and industrial customers will be cycled-off from 2-8 p.m. today.

No commercial and industrial customers in the hurricane-affected areas of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties will have their service interrupted as a part of this program.

[Toad]

Should we start placing bets of who can spot the first gas sign of $3 per gallon or higher?

I saw on picture of an oil platform that had washed up on a bridge. Both production and refineries will be out for a very long time. Guess where our oil is going to come from?

[d-o-b]

Should we start placing bets of who can spot the first gas sign of $3 per gallon or higher?

I saw on picture of an oil platform that had washed up on a bridge. Both production and refineries will be out for a very long time. Guess where our oil is going to come from?
Mobil on Weston Rd..... that's be the first place for sure!!

[Toad]

My bet is on Shell on Indian Trace & Saddle Club.

Mobil on Weston Rd..... that's be the first place for sure!!

[Jason]

Citgo is owned by Venezuela. They are foaming at the mouth to sock it to us.

[Donna]

I'm betting on Shell at Indian Trace and Saddle Club also.

[d-o-b]

Citgo is owned by Venezuela. They are foaming at the mouth to sock it to us.
Ditto, if you check it's actually the cheapest gas around.!! and as you asked in NC, about foreigner aid for NOLA, Chavez, the Venezuelan president already offred fresh water and gas as aid!! LOL

[Toad]

, Chavez, the Venezuelan president already offred fresh water and gas as aid!! LOL

What nice guy after we wanted to kill him (or maybe we still do)? ;)

[Toad]

I just went by the Citgo at Indian Trace & SR84. Premium is 2.999 I think that is technically a winner although I did not look at the Shell station.

[Donna]

d-o-b, I hadn't heard that about Chavez. All I saw this morning was coverage of the destruction and looters.

[d-o-b]

d-o-b, I hadn't heard that about Chavez. All I saw this morning was coverage of the destruction and looters.
that was on the local papers (sorry it's in spanish) but this just came out form Citgo:

CITGO pledges $1 million towards hurricane relief efforts. (http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/DotNet/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=Citgo&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=98857&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True&SubMenu=Releases)

and trust me, I'm not deffending the guy. He's one of the reasons I live here.

[Donna]

I think it is great that they are helping.

[Toad]

Oil group says no need to ration gas yet



Wednesday August 31, 7:46 PM EDT


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans should conserve

gasoline as supplies shrink in the wake of Hurricane Katrina,

but there is no need for the federal government to ration fuel

at this point, a major U.S. oil industry trade group said on

Wednesday.

Nine major oil refineries accounting for about 11 percent

of total U.S refining capacity were shut by the powerful storm.

Several pipelines are unable to ship gasoline from Gulf Coast

refiners to markets elsewhere in the nation.

"It is becoming increasingly evident that the impact of

this devastating storm on oil and natural gas operations will

be significant and protracted," American Petroleum Institute



President Red Cavaney told reporters at a briefing about the

hurricane damage.

To help get through the supply problems, Cavaney urged

American motorists "to take seriously common-sense energy

conservation recommendations" and reduce driving.

The API asked the Bush administration to make promoting

gasoline-saving a key part of the government's hurricane

recovery plan, he said. "We hope with presidential leadership

it will get that kind of attention," Cavaney said.

But Bush did not ask Americans to reduce gasoline use in a

televised speech from the Rose Garden on Wednesday during which

he talked about government efforts to help storm victims.

Bush said the government would loan oil from the nation's

emergency crude stockpile to refineries to help boost available

gasoline supplies. The Energy Department said late on Wednesday

that one refiner withdrew its request for an oil loan after it

was able to find crude from other commercial sources.

Cavaney said he saw no need for the White House to impose

gasoline rationing at this time.

The last major gasoline ration plan in the United States

occurred during the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo. The Nixon

administration asked drivers of vehicles with license plates

ending in an odd number to buy gasoline for their cars only on

odd-numbered days of the month, and vehicles ending in an even

number to buy fuel on even-numbered days.

On Wednesday, wholesale gasoline futures traded on the New

York Mercantile Exchange set a record high of $2.92 a gallon.

Retail gasoline prices across the nation have shot up

dramatically since Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on Monday. Pump

prices at gasoline stations in the suburbs of Washington jumped

another 26 cents to $3.25 a gallon on Wednesday alone.

Many Atlanta area gasoline stations raised prices above $3

a gallon, with one station selling fuel for more than $5. Long

lines formed as residents sought to fill up. There was talk of

potential shortages after Katrina knocked out power to two

pipelines that bring gas and jet fuel into the region.

"Unfortunately for many oil consumers, we will soon see

what happens when a supply shock occurs when prices are already

at high levels," the Energy Department's Energy Information

Administration said on Wednesday.

Cavaney would not speculate how much higher gasoline prices

could go. He also refused to say how U.S. consumers could know

if they are being gouged or charged a fair price for fuel.

"How high product prices reach and how long they stay at

elevated levels will largely be determined by how quickly

refinery capacity can be restored," the EIA said in its

weekly review of the oil market.

Katrina is the worst natural disaster to hit the U.S. oil

industry, he said.

It will take some time for refineries to resume operations,

Cavaney said, though he declined to guess at a timetable.

He said the flood waters must recede first and then the

electricity must be turned back on before the facilities can

process oil again.

"We have the capacity to recover from something like this,"

Cavaney said.

[TD]

this is a gas station in dania beach

http://images.ibsys.com/2005/0901/4922271_320X240.jpg

[Mike Brady]

this is a gas station in dania beach

http://images.ibsys.com/2005/0901/4922271_320X240.jpg

Do you think its possible the Pres. would put a cap on the price of gas?

[Mrs. Hein]

The last major gasoline ration plan in the United States

occurred during the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo. The Nixon

administration asked drivers of vehicles with license plates

ending in an odd number to buy gasoline for their cars only on

odd-numbered days of the month, and vehicles ending in an even

number to buy fuel on even-numbered days.


Wonder how they would deal with the vanity plates now???

[d-o-b]

In The Herald's survey, most stations reported increasing prices at least once this week. A Weston Exxon came in the highest at $3.09 a gallon, up from $2.70 just 48 hours earlier,
just as I said!!!

[jzt]

Wonder how they would deal with the vanity plates now???


They could go by odd/even expiration dates.

[TD]

sports team/college plates on even days and various conservation special interest groups on odd days

[Admin]

Donna and I are in Clermont (Thursday Night) we noticed the gas prices for regular 2.999 and stations closed because NO GAS. Over the next few days we need to find gas or we won't be heading home.

[Tubby]

Gas stations were open today in Clermont, I think they had to shut down last night to raise the price ten cents. At 6:00pm Thursday $2.999/gallon at 8:00am $3.099/gallon for regular. Gas in Clermont is usually twenty cents cheaper then Weston.

[Toad]

Shell at Indian Trace & Saddle Club is out of gas. I'm sure they will price gouge twice as much when the next shipment arrives to make up for the lost sales :mad:

My bet is on Shell on Indian Trace & Saddle Club.

[Donna]

I guess my former next door neighbor is especially thrilled she bought a hybrid auto now. It is such a small car though. I'm unhappy that my car specifies premium gas. Ouch!!

[Best Teach]

I'm unhappy that my car specifies premium gas. Ouch!!

My cousin is a technician (mechanic) for Acura and I asked him about that since my car also specifies premium gas. He said that the engines are designed to run on premium but that if you don't use premium it won't affect your car negatively. I alternate from premium to medium grade and I swear I don't notice a difference.

Oh, and I was in Miami this weekend and the gas is much cheaper than up here.