May 17, 2021–5:21 a.m.
AAA SOUTH
Georgia gas stations are still recovering from surging demand last week.
Gasoline sales were reportedly 2-3 times stronger than normal as drivers lined up at pumps to top off their tanks.
According to Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman AAA-The Auto Club Group, “The restart of the pipeline last Wednesday was very positive news for motorists. While the impact was not seen immediately, Georgians can expect to see a few more days of limited fuel supply but can rest assured that relief is coming.”
The state average for regular unleaded gasoline Monday morning was $2.96 a gallon.
That is 21 cents more than a week ago.
Local averages on Monday were $2.93 in Floyd County, $3.01 in Bartow County. $2.96 in Gordon County, $2.81 in Polk County, and $3.02 in Chattooga County.
AAA will continue to monitor the latest news concerning the Colonial Pipeline. In the meantime, we urge Georgians to keep these tips in mind to conserve fuel:
- Plan ahead to accomplish multiple errands in one trip, and whenever possible avoid high-traffic times of the day.
- If you own more than one car, use the most fuel-efficient model that meets the needs of any given journey.
- Remove unnecessary and bulky items from your car. Minimize your use of roof racks and remove special carriers when not in use. It takes more fuel to accelerate a heavier car, and the reduction in fuel economy is greater for small cars than for larger models.
- Minimize your use of air conditioning. Even at highway speeds, open windows have less effect on fuel economy than the engine power required to operate the air conditioning compressor.
- In hot weather, park in the shade or use a windshield sunscreen to lessen heat buildup inside the car. This reduces the need for air conditioning (and thus fuel) to cool down the car.