The pipeline that brings gas from California to Las Vegas is shut down because of problems caused by the storms. Now, some fear this temporary shutdown will cause prices at the pump to skyrocket. News 3's Ben Correa tells us how we all can prevent a spike in gas prices.
It is pretty simple.Don't panic or rush to the pumps, fearing the gas supply will run out.Crews are working around the clock, fixing the pipeline, hoping to get it back up and running sometime tonight.Despite all that, some are still feeling a pinch at the pumps because of the shutdown.
"Huey's on Boulder Highway tries to keep prices the lowest on Boulder Highway."But you wont find low prices today at this station.Mangers were forced to raise gas prices nine cents a gallon because the station was running low on its gasoline supply."We had to raise our price this morning because of the shortage.We don't know when we'll get the next gas load."
Heavy flooding and a train derailment in California forced the closure.Kinder Morgan Energy Partners operates the pipelines, which affects two gas lines, one that leads to southern Nevada and another that goes into the Phoenix area."People who drive in the valley are assured of gas in their car as long as we don't have panic buying.There is a weeks worth of gas in this market."
Sticker shock continues at the pump.Many hope the shutdown will not force them to dig deeper into their wallets."We don't go anywhere because prices so high.I just go to work, then go home and stay there.I pay $2.50 a gallon.How irate is that?"
The lines also carry diesel and jet fuel.Authorities at McCarran say they are prepared with backup jet fuel if, by chance, shipments cannot be delivered.