Free Republic

The Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday approved a nearly 13-cent hike in the state's wholesale gasoline price for next week... That increase, combined with this week's hike, adds up to about 27 cents a gallon more for gasoline so far this month. The Hawaii state average is currently $2.997 for regular unleaded gas... $2.914 on Oahu, $3.096 in Hilo and $3.294 in Wailuku, Maui...regular unleaded ... Lanai...$4.149 a gallon. The national average is $2.695 a gallon.

The Legislature's key backer of the state gasoline price-cap law unexpectedly switched gears yesterday, advancing a proposal that would suspend the price controls. The proposed suspension of the wholesale gas cap is moving in both chambers of the Legislature, but the changes adopted by Senate Consumer Protection Committee Ron Menor also include a "safeguard" that allows the caps to be reinstated if prices climb too high.

Senator Who Designed Gas Cap May Change Law... Hawaii's gas prices are headed back up again. State House Democrats estimate the wholesale gas price cap will rise next week by 15-20 cents a gallon. The chief author of the law said he'll consider changing it if consumers aren't happy by the beginning of next year. Word of a price hike next week is very disappointing to supporters of the wholesale gas cap law, who were already disappointed at how slowly the prices went down when the cap did. After two weeks of wide prices differences, competing stations in town tightened...