HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—Connecticut's gas price average crossed the $3 threshold for the first time in two years, but officials with AAA in Greater Hartford say this may actually be a sign of returning to pre-pandemic times.
The $3 dollar average is typical for this time of year, AAA in Greater Hartford Spokesperson Amy Parmenter said.
However, drivers may have forgotten what gas prices were like before COVID-19 given the low gas prices during the height of the pandemic, when most people were staying home, Parmenter said.
"I do think that drivers are experiencing a little bit of sticker shock because we've been looking at exceptionally low gas prices for the last year or so," she said.
According to Parmenter, the gas price average was the same this time of year as it was in previous years, making 2020 the exception due to the pandemic.
"In fact, if you look at gas prices in 2018 and 2019, they were exactly where they are right now," she said.
With that, Parmenter said Connecticut drivers can expect gas prices to go up a little bit more as summer approaches. However, AAA does not expect the prices to increase so much that they'll become a deterrent for those ready to go on that summer road trip, she said.
As for concerns with gas prices going up due to the Colonial Pipeline shutdown, it would be premature to speculate any impact on Connecticut's gas prices, Parmenter said.
"If it is an extended shutdown, certainly, it will have a significant impact on gas prices up and down the east coast," she said, "We'll see some impact in Connecticut but mostly, the impact would be New Jersey and south."
To save on gas money, Parmenter recommends using regular unleaded gasoline unless your vehicle manufacturer specifically requires premium or a higher octane gas.
"Previous AAA research shows that Americans actually waste billions of dollars every year in 'treating' their vehicle to a higher octane gasoline than what that vehicle actually requires. It's completely unnecessary and of no benefit whatsoever to the vehicle," she explained.
She also reminds drivers to get a proper vehicle maintenance check-up before traveling if the vehicle has been unused for a long time due to the pandemic.