(WWJ) -- State officials say there is no reason to panic about gas supplies in Michigan in the wake of the cyber attack on the Colonial Pipeline that has left much of the southeast in the middle of a gas shortage.
Michigan Public Service Commission Chair Dan Scripps issued a statement Wednesday, saying officials in Michigan are closely monitoring the situation on the east coast, but they do not anticipate gas shortages in Michigan.
"We are also continuing to monitor price impacts, particularly as gasoline prices typically increase this time of year as we head towards Memorial Day and the summer driving season,” Scripps said in a statement. “While we know of no related threats to Michigan utilities or pipeline operators, Michigan's energy companies are on heightened alert and have increased their monitoring and security measures, and the Commission has been in regular communication on these efforts.”
The pipeline, which stretches more than 5,000 miles from Texas to New Jersey, was shut down May 7 after its operators learned the company had become the victim of a ransomware cyberattack.
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Officials expect the pipeline to be operational before the end of the week, but it could take a few days to catch up on the demand.
While parts of the country are “panic-buying” gas supplies on the east coast, most Michigan gas stations saw pretty normal traffic on Wednesday afternoon, though the Costco in Bloomfield Hills did have lines at all of its pumps.
Customers were taking advantage of the $2.70 price -- which is well below the state average earlier this week -- despite officials saying they don’t expect a major impact on Michigan drivers.
Pat Wagner of Bloomfield tells WWJ she gassed up both her and her husband’s vehicles on Wednesday because of the situation.
“My sister lives in South Carolina and she told me this morning how awful it is down there right now. Most of their stations are running out of gas,” Wagner told WWJ.
Maryann Ayar says she has four children to carpool and drive to sports games and practices, and increased prices can add up quickly.
"I'm afraid of how high it's going to be,” Ayar said. “I know that Costco at least has a good gas price and I need to make sure that I'm prepared. I don't anticipate it going down and I worry about that."