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Competing gas stations lure customers with prices 30 cents lower than average

Story Created: Dec 30, 2011 at 7:22 PM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 30, 2011 at 7:44 PM EDT

ILION, N.Y. (WKTV) - Two gas stations in Ilion are drawing in customers by selling gas way below the local average.

Residents filling up at Stewart's or FastTrac can save approximately 30 cents per gallon compared to other stations in the Mohawk Valley.

John Houle, from Dolgeville, was driving through Ilion Friday afternoon when he caught sight of the low gas prices at Stewart's.

"I was surprised," says Houle. "I was just commenting that Stewart's in Dolgeville is $3.51 a gallon and here in Ilion it's $3.18. I was just in Utica and didn't see anything cheaper than that."

But there is a catch. If you want the price of $3.18 per gallon at the FastTrac, you will need to join their club where money is taken out of your bank account automatically. If you are not a member, you will be paying $3.25 a gallon.

But at Stewart's, you'll pay the lowest price no matter which payment method you chose.

In these tough economic times, residents say they are thrilled gas prices are going down as they are filling up.

"The economy is pretty bad right now," says Terrell Jackson of Ilion. "It's hard to really afford the gas and stuff. I think it is really going to help people out."

But is it worth driving to lion to save at the pump? If you live in Utica and fill up at $3.18 a gallon, you will save on average a total of $3.60 at the pump. But to travel from Utica to Ilion in an average sized car, you will spend around $2.75.

So is it worth traveling to save a few dollars? it it's up to you to decide.
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