Georgia gas prices are slowly declining following increased demand after the halt in service to the Colonial Pipeline. According to the weekly report from AAA-The Auto Club South, Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, which is 3 cents less than a week ago. Despite the slight decrease, Georgians are still paying $1.21 more than they were this time last year.
In Hall County, the price averaged $2.84, according to the AAA Fuel Price Map. Lumpkin and White counties had prices just over $3 a gallon. Most expensive Georgia metro markets include Atlanta ($2.98), Athens ($2.97), and Gainesville ($2.95).
The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline has decreased to $3.03 after holding steady at $3.04 for six days following the attack on the Colonial Pipeline. As the gasoline distribution system begins to recover, national prices are expected to continue stabilizing. However, there is worry that there will be further fluctuation as Memorial Day Weekend approaches and Americans carry out their traveling plans.
“Although the pipeline is currently operating, some gas stations across Georgia continue to see fuel outages as supply logistics work to return to normal," said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman AAA-The Auto Club Group. “While pump prices are anticipated to increase due to high demand for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, we don’t expect higher gas prices to deter motorists from hitting the road since many Americans are eager to travel.”
AAA urges Americans not to panic buy gasoline going into the holiday weekend. AAA provides these tips for conserving 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.
- 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.
