PA Gas Shortage Possible? Wolf Urges Calm As Tensions Mount

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf is urging Pennsylvania residents not to panic as fuel shortages have increased across the East Coast following last week's cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline by DarkSide, a Russian ransomware group.

"We’re monitoring potential impacts from the Colonial Pipeline shutdown, but Pennsylvanians should know we are expecting minimal impact in our commonwealth," Wolf said via Twitter. "There is no need for anyone to stockpile gasoline. Widespread panic buying could result in unnecessary perceived shortages."

The national average for gas prices reached $3 per gallon as of Wednesday, the most expensive level since October 2014.

In Pennsylvania, gas price averages have increased at least 8 cents in over the past week, according to the Automobile Association of America.

The 8-cent rise has brought the Pennsylvania price per gallon up to $3.10, from $3.02.

The ransomware cyberattack hit Colonial Pipeline, which delivers 45 percent of fuel to the East Coast, AAA said. The company shut down its main pipeline, which runs from New York to Texas, as a precaution.

There is enough gas from other pipelines and from tanker trucks to "ease the strain," the auto group says, but not fully resolve the issues. Even once the main pipeline is back running — Colonial hopes to be there by the end of the week — there could be residual delays of up to two to three weeks as the flow is restored.

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Contributing: Justin Heinze/Patch.