[sickoflibs]

RE :” 2. One exception to this would be those gas stations where a large generator could help get the station open. The problem, as I've heard, is that gasoline is sold on such a small profit margin that the profit on the sale of every drop of gasoline in the station's inventory isn't enough to cover the cost of getting a generator in place and running it for several days. This is the type of situation where price “gouging” might be an effective way to get more gasoline out to customers. “

Thanks
This is exactly the one I was thinking of. Allowing gas station owners to charge what buyers are willing to pay, rather than the lower price that the state dictates, could provide a strong incentive to bring in generators to power more gas stations getting more people gas and slowly lowering the prices again as more come on line.

The way it is now station owners might as well just close early with these rules leaving consumers with nothing for standing in line.

But fairness trumps practical economics when the elected gubment decides.

[count-your-change]

Sure, put a surcharge on the gas to pay the extra expense of using a generator and having an electrician wire it up. Put the generator out where everyone can see it and hear it running. Put a sign on it too explaining the surcharge is paying for the thing.