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Daily News

Y2K: Don't Hoard Gas

By Brian Krebs, Newsbytes.

December 28, 1999

Department of Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and the American Automobile Association (AAA) held a news conference today at a filling station in downtown Washington D.C. to urge Americans not to hoard gasoline in anticipation of Y2K-related shortages.

"Does everyone here know the difference between the Pokemon cards and the gasoline sold here?," Richardson asked a shivering crowd of reporters and television crews. "The difference is that you won't find any more of these cards come New Year's Eve, but you will find plenty of gasoline available."

Richardson said gasoline prices should remain stable over the next few weeks, and that oil companies have been preparing for the kind of extra demand typical around major holidays.

Steve Hayes, managing director for AAA, said rumors about possible gas shortages could become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and urged motorists not to create an artificial problem by "topping off" their tanks unnecessarily.

"If you have half a tank on New Year's Eve, you're okay," Richardson said, standing before a podium adorned with a faux gas gauge reading halfway between "Empty" and "Full."

When asked why consumers needed to fill their tanks only halfway if there were no anticipated gas shortages, Richardson said only motorists gearing up for a long trip have cause to flood the tanks.

Pumps at most gas stations these days are equipped with digital devices that read credit cards, monitor usage, and print receipts, making them susceptible to possible Y2K glitches. In addition, all gas pumps are fed by an electric device that directs the flow of fuel from the main storage tank. Should the power go out on Jan. 1, 2000, none of these pumps will serve gas.

But Denise McCourt, marketing coordinator with the American Petroleum Institute (API), said the institute has received one of the highest survey response rates of any industry.

"We received responses from 150,000 of the 180,000 stations we surveyed in the United States," McCourt said. "We're confident that most, if not all, stations are ready."

Richardson also warned consumers not to store extra gasoline at home.

"That's just asking for more trouble than any Millennium Bug could ever bring," he said.

Reported by Newsbytes.com

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@AOL.COM), December 28, 1999

Answers

Can anybody do the math? INPUT - OUTPUT = ACCUMULATION. Topping off tanks will not cause a problem if OUTPUT (usage) is down.

-- John Galt (wwjd@fish.net), December 28, 1999.

I don't know about anyone else, but when some hot-air blowing goverment fool is telling me not to fill up my tanks, then I want to even more.

-- Can't Say (taking_no_chances@right_now.com), December 28, 1999.

And for god sakes people, don't store gas cans INDOORS (that includes the garage)!

-- Can't Say (taking_no_chances@right_now.com), December 28, 1999.

Okay, Richardson says, "...you will find plenty of gasoline available." AAA says, "... rumors about possible gas shortages could become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and urged motorists not to create an artificial problem."

Either we have plenty or we do not. Isn't it as simple as that?

Then, when Richardson is asked why, if there is no problem, we should only fill our tanks halfway. His answer? "...only motorists gearing up for a long trip have cause to flood the tanks." How does this answer the question?

But, I am sooo glad that Richardson was standing before a podium adorned with a faux gas gauge reading halfway between "Empty" and "Full." Without the Sesame Street visuals we might not be able to understand.

-- (RUOK@yesiam.com), December 28, 1999.

I'm sorry, but this just flies into the face of logic, from a business POV. Most of the managers and business owners I know usually want to INCREASE SALES VOLUME, INCREASE REVENUES, LOWER PRODUCTION COSTS (COGS - cost of goods sold), INCREASE PROFITS, and MAXIMIZE RETAINED EARNINGS.

UNLESS...there is a problem....

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), December 28, 1999.

I'm not getting the problem here. The average consumer uses a tank every three or four days. The average tank is half full, usually.

If everyone tries to keep tanks full, that pulls maybe 1.5-2 days supply out of the delivery pipeline. That might make lines for a few days, as people go twice as often for smaller amounts. But once the tanks are full, the supply line can quickly (?) catch up and meet their subsequent needs. Unless they are storing it in extra containers somewhere else, the gasoline problem is limited by consumers not being able to really stockpile anywhere safely. It's simply not a "fractional reserve" type problem, though it is a JIT.

One effect it might have, though, is the psychological one of starting people to think in terms of shortages. That could snowball elsewhere next month.

Hey, TPTB gotta try to tell people what not to do. It's worked so far with y2k stockpiling, hasn't it? They've gotta be feeling pretty, uh, powerful right about now.

-- jor-el (jor-el@krypton.uni), December 28, 1999.

Hmmmm.....

Something about this statement really irritates me:

"Richardson said only motorists gearing up for a long trip have cause to flood the tanks."

This goverment guy has the gall to try to tell me the only reason I would have "cause" to keep my car's tank full????? Thank you, I can decide for myself. This is still a free market economy, right?

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), December 28, 1999.

Is 250 gallons hoarding?

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), December 28, 1999.

Kristi..i totally agree....now that hoarding food is evil, we are beeing told that having more that a half tank of gas is hoarding as well.

LOL

what will be next?

-- Can't Say (taking_no_chances@right_now.com), December 28, 1999.

"If you have half a tank on New Year's Eve, you're okay," Richardson said, standing before a podium adorned with a faux gas gauge reading halfway between "Empty" and "Full."

We've had a House rule here for years that half = empty when it comes fuel tanks. I'd need to stop and fill up on New Year's Eve, which is exactly what we intend to do.

Kinda like the old saw about never pass up a chance to take a leak, eat or sleep, might be a long time before the next chances comes along. Some of you service guys probably know where I'm coming from here.

.........Alan.

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.providenceco-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), December 28, 1999.

Well, I have 900 gallons hoarded. Tuff stuff, government boy....

-- Vernon Hale (create@premiernet.net), December 28, 1999.

I just topped filled two more kero tanks today....now that makes 300 galons of gas, 100 galons of kero....etc... is that ok with you mr richardson?...well too bad because i have to keep my kids warm and make sure my mom and dad live through the winter, so keep your gimmics to yourself!!

-- Pat (wish@Ihad.moregas), December 28, 1999.

My wife and i own 3 cars.We plan on having all 3 filled up,we have 50 gallons of k1,and 4 10 lb propane tanks filled. I don't consider it hoarding because if nothing happens, we will still need gas to go to work.We will still use k1 to help reduce our heating bills,the propane will then be used this coming summer for cookouts and camping,better safe than sorry.

-- Harry Huges (daddyo57@hotmail.com), December 28, 1999.

Uh Bill, right now my tank is at 5/16 full should i go ahead and flood the tank or keep it at a rational 1/2?

-- long time lurker (please dont hurt me@home.com), December 28, 1999.