Story Created:
Dec 6, 2011 at 2:37 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Dec 6, 2011 at 6:26 PM EDT
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Take a drive through Upstate New York and you'll notice quite a discrepancy in gas prices at pumps from Syracuse, to Utica, to Albany.
Average prices per gallon in surrounding areas:
*Utica - $3.56
*Albany - $3.49
*Syracuse - $3.44
*Watertown- $3.33
On average, residents in the Mohawk Valley pay 15 cents more in gas than other local regions.
"I was just in Albany and diesel is 4.03 and here it is $4.09. Why? I don't understand it," says Dan Wilt, from Lake Pleasant.
According to Ed Welsh, Regional General Manager at AAA, the dwindling population in Utica has caused major oil companies to move their distribution centers out of the area, which in turn, drives up gas prices.
"We are almost an island here on distribution," says Welsh. "We don't have 20 companies bringing fuel into here so the region ends up paying a little bit more on average."
Four major gas companies are currently located in the Mohawk Valley: Hess, Chevron, Sunoco, and Mobile.
Syracuse and Albany have 9 or 10 gas competitors which help stabilize prices.
The extra 15 cents per gallon spent at the pump here and there adds up and pinches the pockets of local residents.
"The economy is so bad right now with having high gas prices, no one can afford gas on a minimum wage job, especially if you have a family or anything," says Alex Torres from New Hartford. "Gas prices are outrageous."
Here are some tips from Welsh to save money at the pump:
1. If you have to drive 10 miles or more to get cheaper gas, you'll end up loosing money.
2. Always check prices first at a gas station run by an oil company like Hess before filling up at a convenient store. It is usually cheaper.
3. Online web tools such as
Gas Tracker 2 can be useful for comparing gas station prices in the area.
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