Gas prices have been flat for a month, except in Idaho. The Gem State’s prices are up.
AAA Idaho says the state’s average price went up seven cents in February to $2.44 a gallon. The national average is $2.30 a gallon.
The price hike began when Plains All American Pipeline had to shut down its Wasatch gas pipeline. That cut off the supply of crude oil from Wyoming to Salt Lake City where it gets refined into gasoline. Without a pipeline, the oil is being sent by truck, which takes time and costs more.
AAA says Salt Lake refineries have cut back production levels and one company shut down completely for a week. That means less fuel for Idaho and Utah. Both states have seen price hikes.
“Pipeline and other distribution issues are wild cards that no one expects," says AAA spokesman Matthew Conde.
The pipeline will be back on line soon, but prices likely won’t relent because it’s almost time to switch over to the summer-blend gas, which costs more to produce. AAA says prices will keep going higher in Idaho this spring and summer.
"AAA Idaho expects average gas prices to remain in the $2.50 to $2.70 range for much of the spring and summer,” Conde says.
Find Samantha Wright on Twitter @samwrightradio
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