GILROY
– Gilroy drivers might as well get use to watching gas prices
soar, because the recent increase in the price of fuel is not
expected to ease anytime soon, according to a new survey by the
Automobile Association of Northern California.
GILROY – Gilroy drivers might as well get use to watching gas prices soar, because the recent increase in the price of fuel is not expected to ease anytime soon, according to a new survey by the Automobile Association of Northern California.
The cost of gas in Gilroy is at its highest in 20 months, jumping at least 13 cents per gallon last week and expected to steadily climb through the summer, according to the AAA of Northern California.
“Nationally, this is the highest price ever recorded by AAA during February,” said AAA of Northern California spokesperson Sean Comey. “This is usually a time when prices are lower than during other months of the year.”
While AAA of Northern California does not keep statistics for Gilroy, the cost for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Gilroy this morning ranged from $1.85 to $1.93, while the average for the same gas in San Jose was $1.92 per gallon this morning – up 3 cents from Sunday. A gallon of regular unleaded gas purchased in San Jose at the same time last year cost $1.21.
The current San Jose average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is also 4 cents higher than the state average and 22 cents above the national average, but 3 cents below the Bay Area average, according to AAA.
And although the increase in gas prices has long been rumored by economic experts pointing to the looming war with Iraq and the oil workers’ strike in Venezuela, the sudden surge has made many Gilroyans feel helpless.
“Yesterday I got gas here for $1.79 (a gallon), today I’m paying $1.85 (a gallon),” said Nick Batty of Gilroy, who was filling his car Sunday night with 87-octane regular unleaded fuel at Rotten Robbie, at 390 Leavesley Road. “I have to drive to San Jose for work every day, so this really costs me.”
He would take public transportation to work, but he needs his car for his job and he would have to wake up too early to catch the train, Batty said.
“The only thing I can do is find the cheapest place to fill,” Batty said. “It’s not something I have any control over.”
Ray Ledesma, manager of Valero gas station at 700 First St., said this morning that his station raised the price of gas every day last week – including 10 cents in one 24-hour period – but the current gallon price of $1.91 for regular unleaded has held since Friday.
“It’s been stable the past few days,” Ledesma said, “but we expect it to rise again by the end of the week.”
High gasoline prices in Gilroy not only stem from international politics, but also from California oil refineries. At many of the local plants production is down slightly because the refineries are undergoing routine maintenance in preparation for March’s switch over to a summer fuel blend, Comey said.
The fuel situation has become so costly that some local drivers feel the quality of the gasoline is also suffering.
“It seems like my mileage (per gallon) has been down since the prices went up last week,” said Mimi Valvenzuela, who was filling her 2002 Hyundai Accent at Rotten Robbie on Sunday night. “I always buy the cheap gas, but now it seems like they’re watering it down even more than before – probably to save money. I usually fill up once a week, but this is my second tank this week and I haven’t driven much more than normal.”
Comey said motorists can do simple things such as maintaining proper tire inflation and unloading any unnecessary weight from their vehicles to improve their gas mileage.
“Historically prices always rise in March,” he said. “So people need to start thinking long-term.”
