AAA expects gas supplies to remain strong in Florida despite a pipeline outage and a dime a gallon price jump last week.
Prices across the state to an average of $2.88 a gallon, which is 3 cents less than the highest price so far in 2021.
Jacksonville continues to see some of the lowest prices in the state, where the average was $2.84 a gallon.
The increase in gas prices across much of the Southeast can be attributed to a shutdown of the nation’s largest pipeline following a ransomware attack, according to AAA.
The Colonial Pipeline carries gas from refineries in Texas to parts of the Southeast and up the Eastern seaboard to New York Harbor.
AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said in an email sent to WJCT News on Monday that Florida is not largely dependent on the pipeline for gas, as it receives most of it from Gulf Coast refineries. Still, he said the shutdown could impact prices in Florida.
"The longer the pipeline is down, the greater the threat of rising gas prices," Jenkins said. "If operations are restored on Monday, drivers may see very little to no impact at the pump. A lengthy downtime, like a week, would be a different story. Sunday night, gasoline futures prices were up less than a nickel."
Colonial Pipeline Co. is developing a restart plan and will bring the full system back online when the company believes it is safe to do so, NPR reported.
