HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With retail gasoline prices exceeding $4 per gallon in some areas, older fuel dispensers may display half-gallon prices in coming weeks, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said on Friday.
Some older, nondigital fuel dispensers cannot compute prices exceeding $3.99, making it necessary to allow half-gallon pricing until upgrades can be made, he said. Signs advertising fuel prices must still advertise the price for a full gallon of gasoline or diesel, but the price displayed on the pump will be half the per-gallon price.
"With rapidly increasing fuel prices, [image-nocss] I am allowing gas stations with older model pumps to temporarily implement half-gallon prices," Rendell said. "Most retail fuel stations in Pennsylvania can display per-gallon prices over $4, but we will accommodate those that cannot, allowing business to continue and ensuring consumers get what they pay for."
Fewer than 500 fuel dispensers are estimated to be affected by the problem, which is approximately 0.4% of the pumps in Pennsylvania. In 2007, there were more than 108,000 retail fuel dispensers in Pennsylvania.
The policy only applies for fuel dispensers that cannot compute prices above $3.99 and meet the following requirements:
The dispenser involved will not display and compute unit prices of $4 per gallon or higher. The fuel is being sold for $4 per gallon or more. The sign on the front of the dispenser is changed to read "one-half total sale" or "1/2 total sale" instead of "total sale." The sign on the front of the dispenser clearly shows the price per gallon. The actual selling price per gallon or liter of fuel will be posted on street advertising.The state Bureau of Weights & Measures regularly inspects stations to ensure the accuracy of fuel pumps, said Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff. "Consumers can continue to feel confident in the amount of gas they receive when they pay their bill," he said.
To receive temporary approval from the state Department of Agriculture to sell half gallons of fuel, stations must order an upgrade kit that will allow the motor fuel dispenser to display and compute unit prices of $4 per gallon and higher. They must show proof of the order to department inspectors upon request, along with a reasonable date by which the upgrade kit will be installed.
Stations must register with the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Weights & Measures to be eligible for the half-gallon pricing.Click here to view more information.
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