Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture is temporarily allowing half-gallon pricing on gas sales as a short-term fix for problems at old fuel pumps that can’t display the current market’s high prices.
While most fuel dispensers in Pennsylvania can display per-gallon prices over $4, as well as calculate accumulated costs for a purchase, the state’s Department of Agriculture said some mechanical fuel dispensers have trouble displaying unit price and computing overall sales prices, particularly when per-gallon fuel prices hit $3.99 and higher.
“Given the recent and rapid increase in motor fuel prices in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has elected to implement – on a temporary basis – an enforcement policy that will allow for the sale of gasoline in half-gallon units,” the Department of Agriculture said.
The half-gallon pricing will be permitted for dispensers at gas stations that can’t compute prices exceeding $3.99 per gallon, though other criteria must also be met, including:
The motor fuel dispenser involved will not display and compute unit prices of $4 per gallon or higher.
The person selling motor fuel from the dispenser intends to charge $4 per gallon or more for the fuel being sold.
The signage on the motor fuel dispenser is altered such that the “total sale” indication on the face of the dispenser is replaced with the statement “one-half total sale” or “half total sale.”
The signage on the motor fuel dispenser is such that the “price per gallon” is displayed on the dispenser that is readily visible to the customer.
All motor fuel dispensers at the facility that do not display and compute unit prices of $4 per gallon or higher are in complete compliance with these requirements.
Street price posting and other forms of advertising setting forth the selling price of motor fuels shall be in the unit price per gallon or the unit price per liter, as appropriate.
The dispensing facility has ordered an upgrade kit which will permit the motor fuel dispenser to display and compute unit prices of $4 per gallon and higher, and retains proof of that order at the dispensing facility and makes it available for inspection upon request of any inspector employed by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
The dispensing facility provides Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture a reasonable date by which the upgrade kit will be installed, and updates this Department, in writing, if installation cannot ultimately occur by that date.
