Tennessee Taking Tips On Post-Hurricane Gas Gouging

NASHVILLE, TN — As Texas begins its long recovery from Hurricane Harvey, gas prices are continuing to rise across the South, Tennessee included.

With the average price of gas soaring statewide, the Department of Commerce & Insurance is reminding Tennesseans that price gouging is illegal, but also that not all price fluctuations are gouging.

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"Price gouging is unreasonably raising prices or unreasonably restricting supplies of essential goods, commodities or services in direct response to a crime, act of terrorism, war, or natural disaster, regardless of whether such event occurred in the state of Tennessee. State price-gouging laws cover essential goods such as gasoline, food, and lodging," the TDCI said in a release.

Information about possible price-gouging, such as the name of the business, location, price and date, along with photos of the price or a receipt can be sent to consumer.affairs@tn.gov.

"Remember: Higher prices due to disaster do not automatically mean illegal price gouging. Higher prices may be reasonable based upon increases in costs to the business. This is a determination made by a court of law," the TDCI said.

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