March 18, 2009 — St. John motorists have had only one service station at which to buy fuel for the last three weeks, as the Domino's Station in Coral Bay has been closed since March 4 due to a lack of fuel.
Full-service fuel prices on St. Thomas dropped slightly in the last week, while self-service prices remained unchanged from the previous week, according to the latest gas-price survey from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs. On St. Croix, fuel prices remained unchanged for the second straight week. Motorists on the big island again enjoyed the lowest gas prices in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the DLCA survey.
The department surveys fuel prices throughout the territory to provide consumers with information about where they can locate the lowest prices for fuel. The newest survey was completed March 12.
On St. John at the Cruz Bay E&C Station, prices for a gallon of fuel were:
— Premium self-service: $2.799
— Regular self-service: $2.649
— Diesel: $3.039
Phone calls to Domino's on St. John and St. Thomas were not answered.
At the E&C station, employee Chris Toddman said the station was holding its own, trying to pump enough fuel to make up for the closure of the Domino station.
It is not the first time the Domino station has closed for lack of fuel to sell. A search of the Source archives shows at least three times in the last 16 months the station has been temporarily closed, along with other shot-term closures in recent years.
On St. Thomas, the three Texaco stations, which just a week earlier had sold some of the island's most expensive gasoline, matched the lowest prices for self-service regular.
"Usually franchise stations consistently have the highest prices," the DLCA's report noted. "However, this survey shows a turnaround in the price per gallon at Texaco stations."
The prices for self-service regular at the airport and Tutu Texaco stations were matched by three independent stations. One Stop, Gas Works and Race Track, along with the two Texacos, each offered a gallon of self-service regular for $2.479.
The Smith Bay Texaco was the only full-service price recorded on the survey, with prices of $2.559 for full-service premium and $2.479 for full-service regular.
On St. Croix, fuel prices remained unchanged for the second straight week, at about 70 cents a gallon cheaper than the gas on St. Thomas.
"Consumers should note that NuWay Gas Station has consistently had the lowest prices for full-service gasoline for the past four weeks," the DLCA report said. NuWay is located in Hogensberg.
Prices at selected St. Croix stations for a gallon of self-service fuel are:
— Lionel Service Center, Orange Grove: $1.709
— Capital Service Station, Estate Glynn: $1.729
— Everybody's Service Station, LaGrande Princess: $1.749
— One Love Service Station, La Grande Princess: $1.759
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