The Pennsylvania House passed, and sent to the Senate, legislation that would authorize inspectors to begin random testing of octane levels in gasoline.
Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R-Bucks/Montgomery) said the state Department of Agriculture’s Weight and Measures inspectors are required to check that gas pumps are correctly dispensing gas. He said Senate Bill 341 would task those same officials to also check octane levels in the gas.
Greenleaf said it is important for consumers to know when they buy gas that they’re getting what they pay for, and the measure will make suppliers more sensitive to checking the gas they sell.
“Right now there’s no regulation of it. There’s no one checking on it,” said Greenleaf. “So, as a result, there’s no incentive for the suppliers to be very particular in regard to the octane level.”
Greenleaf said only Pennsylvania, Alaska, and Nebraska don’t perform regular checks on octane levels.
In 2007, following an audit of retail gas pumps, PA Auditor General Jack Wagner recommended the state begin testing octane levels. Greenleaf said he’s was working on this legislation before then.
“It wasn’t given a priority before this. And so, I’m pleased that the House considered it and the Senate also considered it,” said Greenleaf. “And now all it has to do is come back to the Senate for concurrence.”
He said the House only amended the bill in minor ways and he expects it to pass when the Senate returns to session October 15th.
