Today, Attorney General Henry McMaster announced that investigation into suspected price gouging found seven South Carolina gas retailers guilty.  After Hurricane Katrina, the Attorney General's office received around 1,500 complaints for over 100 gas stations.  Today's report claims that the following retailers were not able to supply justification for their increases:

1. Pavan Food Stores d/b/a Mr. Chip, 502 N. Harper Street, Laurens, SC
2. Pavan Food Stores d/b/a L'il Cricket, 310 East Butler Road, Mauldin, SC
3. Cornerstop #58, 102 South Broad Street, Clinton, SC
4. Cornerstop #57, 801 N. Harper Street, Laurens, SC
5. Cornerstop #53, 700 Fleming Street, Laurens, SC
6. BP Station, 1140 Church Street, Laurens, SC
7. Pik-N-Go, 811 South Broad Street, Clinton, SC

“Our investigation determined that seven stations located in Laurens, Mauldin and Clinton charged an average $4.59 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline without sufficient explanation,” said McMaster.

Part of the settlement requires the seven retailers to give $500 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief. 

Furthermore, Henry McMaster reminded the General Assembly of the need to consider his proposed price gouging law (H. 4316), which allows law enforcement to investigate and prosecute price gouging without a governor's declaration for state of emergency.  When a Senate Judiciary Sub-committee meets tomorrow in Columbia, they will discuss the price gouging bill.