Politics & Government
Warning Issued To Gas Station Owners As Gas Tax Suspension Begins In CT
The 25-cent gas tax suspension started today in Connecticut. Gas stations that don't pass the savings to consumers can be sued.
CONNECTICUT — The 25-cent state gas tax holiday kicked off today, and the state attorney general is warning gas station owners that they need to pass savings onto consumers.
The law removes the state 25-cent excise tax through June 30. Gas stations that are suspected of not passing the savings on to consumers can be investigated and potentially sued by the State Attorney General office.
“It’s important to remember that prices at the pump will continue to fluctuate along with changes in wholesale prices,” Attorney General William Tong said in a statement.
Find out what's happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Not every increase or decrease is gas prices is related to the tax or constitutes price gouging, as wholesale gas prices can fluctuate, Tong said.
Consumers who suspect a gas station isn’t passing the savings on to consumers can file an electronic complaint. Complaints should include the address of the gas station, date and time of purchase and exact price paid. Ideally, complaints should also include a receipt, Tong said.
Find out what's happening in Across Connecticutfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The average price of gas in Connecticut is $4.27 a gallon early today, which isn’t much of a budge from the $4.29 average yesterday, according to AAA. The average price a week ago was $4.32 a gallon.
Gas prices peaked on March 11 at $4.49 per gallon.
Some gas stations are selling gas below $4 a gallon in Connecticut, according to Gas Buddy.
Gov. Ned Lamont signed the gas tax suspension into law in March after it passed the legislature with unanimous approval. The law also provides free public transit bus rides through June 30. The state will also have a tax-free week on clothing and shoe purchases under $100 starting April 10.
County averages as of April 1:
- Fairfield: $4.34
- New Haven: $4.26
- Middlesex: $4.26
- New London: $4.30
- Hartford: $4.23
- Tolland: $4.27
- Windham: $4.25
- Litchfield: $4.30
President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. will release 1 million barrels of oil per day from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help ease high gas prices.
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