Gas Prices In Tulsa Leap Nearly 50 Cents Since Start Of May

You may have noticed that gas prices have jumped 48 cents since the start of the month, and analysts say maintenance on some refineries is driving costs even up more.

The price for gas was about $3.64, when many people drove home Wednesday evening, and around 6 p.m., it went up to $3.82.

Drivers feel like they're draining their wallet to fill up their gas tank.

"You go out and you just work every day and hope it goes down, and if it doesn't go down, you hope you get an extra hour or two of work every week to make up for it," said Sulphur resident Steve Fleming.

According to Gasbuddy.com, prices have been rising since the start of May.

"It's probably the worst we've seen price increases since 9/11 hit," said Joe Stephenson, with fuel distributor Stephenson Oil Company.

He said one factor of the price increase is the planned maintenance at Tulsa's Holly refinery.

"It just makes it tough each day to get product into our stores that we sell fuel to," Stephenson said.

He said the refinery is only releasing a limited amount of product each day during its partial shutdown for maintenance. He said he's having trouble getting fuel for his clients.

Every day at 4 p.m., prices come in from different suppliers. Those prices go into effect at 6 p.m. each day.

If you don't fill up by 6 o'clock, you'll be paying the next day's prices.

"Last week, $109 to fill up. I imagine after 6 o'clock, it will be $130, $140," Fleming said.

Wednesday night, we watched that price change take effect. Most stations jumped by 10 to 20 cents.

"I hope it stops pretty soon. Getting to $4-a-gallon-gas is awful scary. A lot of families out there, and I'm sure it affects their pocket book," Stephenson said.

The dreaded drive to $4 a gallon may be just around the corner.

However, analysts predict this price hike will be painful, but not permanent.

Tony Conetta, refinery manager for the HollyFrontier facility, says there is maintenance scheduled for this summer, but he says it hasn't begun yet. Conetta says the refinery is currently producing gasoline at normal levels.