A nine-month investigation into gas price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Ike in September has finally singled out three gas stations and one wholesale supplier in South Carolina for excessive price increases.
Those four businesses have reached a settlement with the state to donate a total of $6500 to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief.
South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster says his investigation found price hikes last year were less drastic than in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. He attributes that to a stronger state law against price gouging. After Katrina, McMaster lobbied the General Assembly to toughen the law so his office could activate criminal penalties for price gouging that occurs when market conditions are disrupted.
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