By Pat Raia,
[email protected]
While consumers are likely to see gas prices rise as a result of the May 7, cyber attack and subsequent shut down on the Colonial Pipeline, Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order declaring a State of Emergency and prohibiting price gouging in Florida in connection with the breach.
Consisting of more than 5,000 miles of pipeline the Colonial begins at Huston, Texas and ends at the Port of New York and New Jersey. It delivers more than 100 million gallons of fuel daily, and is responsible for providing about 45 percent of the gasoline consumed in the eastern US.
Consumers in Florida have seen gas prices increase in connection with the attack, but so far few shortages have been reported.
On May 11, Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to the shutdown by declaring a State of Emergency.
“The sudden and unexpected closure of Colonial Pipeline and the attending disruption of fuel supplies poses a severe threat to the State of Florida and requires that immediate measures be taken to protect and to facilitate the continued delivery of such fuel products to this State, until such time as Colonial Pipeline operations have fully resumed;,” he wrote in the emergency order.
The order forbids price gouging, and also waives size and weight restrictions for divisible loads on vehicles transporting gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, and other refined petroleum products. It activates the Florida National Guard on an as needed basis, and instructs state, local and municipal emergency management agencies to assist federal agencies as needed to respond to the emergency connected to the shutdown.
In a written statement Colonial said that it is working to restore its system to service. Just when full service will resume is uncertain.
