|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT: Ann
Collis |
State Rep. Joseph
Markosek |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Markosek: Quality plus quantity equals real consumer protection
HARRISBURG, March 7 – State Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland, announced at a news conference today that he plans to introduce legislation that would establish an automotive fuel testing and disclosure program in Pennsylvania.
The new program would ensure that poor quality gasoline is not dumped in Pennsylvania. Currently Pennsylvania is one of
only four states -- Alaska, Nebraska and Ohio are the others -- in which inspectors
do not verify posted octane ratings. Ohio has a law pending.
“Pennsylvania could very easily become a dumping ground for defective fuel, if it already hasn’t, because almost every other state has protective measures in place,” Markosek said. “This legislation would give us the regulatory authority to test fuel quality, putting our state on par with the rest of the nation.”
Markosek said that accurate octane levels are becoming increasingly important because more automobiles, including mid-priced brands, require premium fuel for their engines.
“Consumers should have confidence they are getting what they pay for and gas companies should be held accountable for what they sell,” he added.
Pennsylvania is ranked seventh in expenditures for gasoline, according to a 2003 Energy Information Administration report.
“We are one of the gas industry’s biggest customers,” Markosek said. “Yet clearly we have some gaping holes in the way we regulate our gas companies.”
A report released last month by Auditor General Jack Wagner called for fuel testing in Pennsylvania. It also noted that the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gas has increased 71 percent over the past six years. Additionally, Pennsylvania auditors checked 23,341 pumps at 2,110 gas stations and found that two of every 10 decals were outdated at stations under the state’s jurisdiction, and one in every 10 decals was outdated at stations under county or city jurisdiction.
“Decals indicate pumps are tested for accuracy and safety, but not for octane levels,” Markosek said. “While consumers unfortunately have no way to verify the quality of gasoline right now, one way they can protect themselves from getting shortchanged at the pump is by checking to make sure the station has current decals.”
In 2004, a faulty batch of gasoline in Erie caused more than 200 cars to sputter to a stop despite the fuel gauge indicating there was still gas in the tank.
More recently, last Thursday thousands of cars in the United Kingdom broke down, prompting trading standards officers to launch an investigation into claims that garages were selling contaminated petrol. Increasing numbers of motorists have been affected by the petrol, which was causing vehicles to judder, misfire and lose power.
Markosek serves as majority chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
###ac/2007/mjh
l:\print\releases\fueltesting.025