ND1202118

Title: Conn. Retailers Register Opposition to Generator Bill

Description: The legislation would require all gasoline stations to have generators on hand.

Page Content: HARTFORD, Conn. ? When hundreds of Connecticut gasoline stations had to close because of a power outage relating to October?s snow storm, legislators wanted to avoid the problem again by making all gasoline retailers have generators, WTNH-TV reports.

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?I had a lot of people in Southington on Route 10, lines backed up [after the storm],? said Rep. Zeke Zelaski of why he supports the bill, ?and many people were complaining they couldn't get gasoline for their generators.?

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But many gasoline station owners oppose such a mandate and this week, they told the committee why. ?We aren't talking about an $800 generator to run a service station,? said Mike Fox with the Gasoline Retailers Association. ?You're talking between 30 and $35,000, and 1,500 and $2,500 a year to maintain it. It just doesn't make economic sense to do it.?

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With most retailers barely making any profit on the price of gasoline, adding such an expense would be crippling. A similar bill ?was put in place in Florida where you have 14 to 25 storms per year knocking out power,? said Fox. ?Here, what are we having? Three or four? So this is an over-reaching again, not addressing the real problem.?

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Fox pointed out that a drop in tree trimming by the utility companies contributed to the power outage, which the committee also discussed. The governor?s office has asked that recommendations on this issue be turned in by Jan. 1.

Content Subject: Petroleum Retailing

Formatted Article Date: December 2, 2011

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