SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Alabama and other state across the Southeast are experiencing the effects of the Colonial Pipeline shutdown.
A cybersecurity attack forced the Colonial Pipeline to shut down its entire system last Friday. AAA forecasts gas prices to climb this week in reaction to the shutdown. The Colonial Pipeline delivers approximately 45% of all fuel to the eastern potion of the United States.
One of the nations largest roadside assistance organizations, AAA is keeping tabs on how the shutdown will affect gas prices. The shutdown will have implications on both gasoline supply and prices. Gas prices are expected to climb three to seven cents this week.
While the U.S. has a sufficient gasoline supply through other pipelines, AAA urges against panic-buying of gasoline during the shutdown.
Here are some tips to keep in mind to conserve fuel:
- Plan ahead to accomplish multiple errands in one trip, and whenever possible avoid high-traffic times of 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.
The average price of gas in Alabama per gallon is currently $2.72
Here is a look at gas prices around the city of Sylacauga.
