DLCA Subpoenas Gas Station Documents As Prices Drop Unevenly

The Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs recently served all V.I. fuel retailers with a subpoena requesting copies of certain documents to provide a clearer picture on the great disparity in prices between the District of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix.

According to a release from the department, Licensing and Consumer Affairs wants to ensure that consumers receive the fairest price possible at the pump.

“I am urging consumers to use the information provided in this press release to make financially sound decisions,” Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Richard T. Evangelista said in the release.

As of Aug. 14, the wholesale prices on St. Croix are as follows: $3.15 per gallon for regular, $3.38 per gallon for premium and $3.75 per gallon for diesel. These rates include the USVI fuel tax but not the delivery fees.

On St. Thomas and St. John, retailers continue to purchase fuel from Puerto Rico where the wholesale prices continue to fall but not as quickly as the wholesale prices on St. Croix. As of Aug. 17, the average wholesale price in Puerto Rico for regular fuel is about $3.52 per gallon, for premium fuel $4.14 per gallon and for diesel fuel $4.16 per gallon. Not included in the prices are the V.I. fuel tax and delivery fees.

As of Aug. 17, the average cost of fuel on all three islands dropped. On St. Croix, the cost of fuel was $4.36 for regular — down $.05 per gallon; $4.93 for premium — down $.09 per gallon; and $5.02 for diesel — down $.09 per gallon. On St. Thomas, as of August 17, the average cost of fuel was $5.53 for regular — down $.011 per gallon; $5.86 for premium down $.14 per gallon; and $6.13 for diesel down $.09 per gallon. On St. John, the cost of fuel was $5.93 for regular — down $.10 per gallon, $6.33 for premium down $.00 and $7.26 for diesel down $.12 per gallon.