The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office confirmed Monday that it is investigating potential gas gouging in San Juan County.
The confirmation comes after Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett wrote a letter to the attorney general and requested the investigation, saying that prices are the “biggest issue” for Farmington residents.
“I’m getting pictures. I’m getting emails. City Hall is taking phone calls,” Duckett said. “People are just frustrated.”
The issue is that gas prices are more than $1 higher in Farmington than in Albuquerque.
“Historically we’ve been told it’s transportation costs from Albuquerque to Farmington that cause our fuel costs to be higher per gallon. It doesn’t cost a $1.10 per gallon to bring fuel to Farmington,” Duckett said.
Tony DiGiacomo who was filling his gas tank Friday at a 7-2-11, echoed Duckett’s sentiments.
“Other areas have to truck it in and don’t pay as high prices. That’s an excuse, and not a good one,” DiGiacomo said.
The national average for gasoline on Dec. 21 was $3.12 per gallon, and the New Mexico average was $2.95. In San Juan County, the average price on Thursday was $3.62, which was higher than both the national and state average, according to AAA.
Prices in McKinley County, which is San Juan County’s neighbor to the south, were coming in at $2.98, and in Rio Arriba County, the county’s neighbor to east, prices were $2.71, according to AAA.
In fact, AAA reported that San Juan County has the highest gas prices in the entire state of New Mexico, higher even than Santa Fe, which has an average of $2.82 per gallon.
“Farmington prices are higher, and I never understood that,” DiGiacomo said.
A college student home for the holidays was surprised by the prices.
“I’ve been in college and just got back to Farmington. I’m having to pay for gas and the prices are higher than in Utah,” said Allen Hilton, 22, a student at BYU in Provo, who was pumping gas at Smith’s. He guessed the cost would be $39 to fill up, it ended up costing him $55.
Hilton said all prices are going up, and gas just adds to it. “There’s a lot of stuff to calculate. Rent is going up; gas is going up. The only thing keeping me afloat is hanging onto scholarships.”
DiGiacomo said high prices are a “global issue,” but he questioned the high prices in Farmington.
“I know my community is looking for answers and looking for somebody to lead the charge. We can collectively as a town provide our feedback to the fuel stations and the companies that operate them,” Duckett said, adding people in the community also can reach out to the Attorney General’s Office.
“I can confirm that we are investigating this matter,” New Mexico Attorney General’s Deputy Communications Director Ashley Sterling said in a Dec. 18 email.
Duckett said he also heard from the AG’s office, telling him an investigation had been done during Hector Balderas’ term as attorney general, and now Raul Torres would be looking into the same matter.
DiGiacomo thought “it was awesome” the AG’s office is doing an investigation. “It’s well overdo,” he said.
“I’m getting daily contact from individuals, who are so frustrated,” Ducket said, adding he did the math, and with gas prices the way they are in San Juan County, he will be paying $1,500 dollars more per year than families in Albuquerque with a three-car household.
“I hope the AG’s office is taking these complaints seriously, and I hope they do a thorough investigation that ends up with us paying a more fair price for fuel,” Duckett said.
