PA To Consider Expanding Gas Price Gouging Investigations

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania could expand the attorney general's powers to investigate gas and petroleum price gouging under a bill a state senator is poised to introduce.

Sen. Marty Flynn, a Lackawanna County Democrat, is seeking support to update the current Price Gouging Act to remove a provision restricting the attorney general from probing such allegations unless there has been a disaster declaration.

"Although there are clear causes for the upward pressure on prices at the pump, it is reasonable to ask whether unscrupulous operators are taking advantage of the situation and charging unfair prices," Flynn wrote in a letter to colleagues. "Unfortunately, state law currently does not
allow the attorney general to investigate this situation without a disaster declaration from the governor."

Flynn's legislation comes after President Joe Biden warned oil and gas companies not to excessively hike prices after his decision to block Russian energy imports to the United States after its invasion of Ukriaine.

"Russia's aggression is costing us all and it's no time for profiteering or price gouging," Biden said on Tuesday."I want to be clear about what we will not tolerate."

Pennsylvanians continue to grapple with record-high gasoline prices. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded in the state was $4.43 as of Friday. In Philadelphia, the average was $4.50; in Pittsburgh, it was $4.34.

Nationally, the average was $4.43.

Flynn's legislation would allow the attorney general to investigate only gas or diesel fuel price gouging complaints without a disaster declaration. Any price increase of at least 10 percent in the span of 60 days or less for those products also would be considered justification.

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