Gas pump inaccuracies both help, hurt consumer

AUSTIN (AP) _ Thousands of inaccurate gas pumps each year give Texas motorists more or less fuel than the amount for which they pay.

A total of 5,778 pumps - more than 5 percent of the 109,369 pumps inspected last year in Texas - gave the wrong amount of gasoline or had other problems that put them out of service until they were repaired.

Almost 28 percent of the problem pumps - 1,612 - shorted customers beyond a small variance allowed by the state, according to Texas Department of Agriculture inspection data analyzed by the San Antonio Express-News and the Houston Chronicle. The information was contained in a report for Saturday's newspapers.

The percentage reflects only inspection categories that measure gas output, not other problems that can affect pump accuracy and also potentially short the customer.

Twenty-seven percent of the problem pumps, or 1,575, provided a bonus, providing more gasoline than they should have.

"Half of the time it may be tilted slightly in favor of the station owner, but the other half of the time, it's tilted slightly in favor of the consumer," said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples.

Since 2005, the percentage of inspected pumps found to have problems has ranged from 5.3 to 6.4 annually, the newspapers reported.

Of those with problems in 2005, almost 37 percent shorted customers in the pump-output categories, while nearly 20 percent gave them too much gas. In 2006, 40 percent of pumps that failed inspection gave too little, and 20 percent too much. So far this year, 23.5 percent of problem pumps have given too little gas, and 23.2 percent too much.

When two more inspection categories that can relate to gas pump accuracy - readouts for "price" and "gallons" not starting at zero and improperly maintained pumps - the proportion of inspected pumps that might be shorting consumers climbs to the 60 percent range or higher in each of the past three years. The "improperly maintained" category includes items that may or may not short the customer.

Chris Newton of the Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association said sellers are committed to accuracy.

"This is an incredibly tough time for retailers in motor fuels," Newton said. "It's not in a retailer's interest to be engaging in that type of conduct. Our members want a fair marketplace for everybody."

Staples asked motorists to be aware of their gas-tank capacity, pay attention at the pump and report any problems to his agency at 1-800-Tell-TDA. The state inspects pumps every four years and examines any that get complaints.

Record high gasoline prices greeted Fourth of July travelers on Texas highways. AAA Texas on Friday reported the statewide average for self-serve regular was $3.96 per gallon, up three cents compared to last week.