Plymouth Gas Station Told To Stop Price Gouging By Michigan AG

LANSING, MI — A Plymouth Township gas station has been put on notice after being accused of price gouging in the wake of the recent hack of the Colonial Pipeline.

The BP gas station on Ann Arbor Road in Plymouth Township has been told to stop price gouging following an investigation by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Nessel said her office became aware of price gouging complaints following a story by the Detroit-area TV station WXYZ.

People had reportedly reached out to the TV station alleging that the gas station, located at 39600 Ann Arbor Road, was selling unleaded and premium gas for nearly $1 more than other area gas stations, Nessel's office said.

“It is my hope this gas station will take this notice seriously and no further action will be necessary," Nessel said Thursday. "Those who try to take advantage of consumers will always be held accountable."

An attorney general investigator visited the gas station, where representatives for the gas station were offered an opportunity to show why the prices were justified based on a base cost for the fuel, but declined to do so, Nessel's office said.

The timing of the spiked prices followed the recent hack of the Colonial Pipeline, which did not directly impact Michigan supply but did have a direct effect in other areas of the country.

The gas station's prices served "only to fuel anxiety and create the risk of an artificial inflation of gas prices in [the] community” and resulted in probable cause to believe the station engaged in an unfair trade practice, Nessel wrote in a notice of intended action.

The gas station has 10 days to respond to the notice or face a civil lawsuit or formal investigation, according to Nessel.