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No Ike Effect Seen In Florida Fuel Supply, State Official Says

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 12, 2008

TAMPA - Hurricane Ike has not affected Florida's supply of fuel thus far, and no shortages have been reported, a state energy spokeswoman said this morning.

Some news organizations in the Southeast have reported shortages of gasoline; others have reported word of impending shortages.

Florida has about an eight-day supply of fuel at distribution centers, with an additional six-day supply expected by Sept. 20, said Sarah Williams, of the Florida Energy Commission.

That amounts to a little more than 200 million gallons of fuel at distribution centers, not including supplies already shipped to gas stations, and an additional 150 million gallons expected during the next nine days, Williams said.

The state's fuel users generally consume about 25 million gallons of petroleum products a day, she said.

No breakdown was available this morning for individual ports such as the Port of Tampa, which supplies fuel throughout West Central Florida and into Orange County.

"It is possible it is too early to tell, but right now everything looks good," Williams said. "We will continue to monitor the impact of Hurricane Ike."

Port of Tampa spokesman Andy Fobes said there have been no reports of shipments to Tampa delayed.

The AAA fuel gauge report from 3:15 this morning put the average price of regular gasoline in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area at $3.633, up from $3.618 Thursday morning. A year ago, a gallon of regular sold for $2.727.

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