Gasoline prices in Nevada continue to rise

By Kyle B. Hansen

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

Gas prices in Nevada have continued to rise over the past month and are now 5 cents higher than they were at the beginning of October and 20 cents higher than they were a year ago.

The average cost of a gallon of regular gas in Nevada is now $2.94, according to AAA’s monthly fuel price report.

Prices in Southern Nevada, however, remain below those in the northern part of the state, where gas prices are often above $3 per gallon.

The average price of a gallon in Las Vegas and North Las Vegas is $2.87, a 5 cent increase for Las Vegas and a 6 cent increase for North Las Vegas. Henderson prices rose 4 cents to an average of $2.88.

Reno’s average gas price is $3.07, an 8 cent rise; Carson City’s is $2.92, a 6 cent increase; and Sparks averages $3.06, a 5 cent increase.

The only city in the state with a November drop in prices was Elko, where the average gallon is a penny less than a month ago, but prices there remain among the highest in the state, with an average of $3.03 per gallon.

AAA attributed the rise in prices to a decrease in supply due to seasonal maintenance at oil refineries.

“Oil stockpiles are at their highest levels in six months, but pump prices aren’t dropping, thanks in part to a lack of gasoline reserves,” said auto club spokesman Michael Geeser. “This lack of gasoline supply is being attributed to autumn maintenance at oil refineries across the country, which has cut down on how much gas they are producing.”

The national gas price average also rose 5 cents in the last month, to an average of $2.86.

Nevada is tied with the District of Columbia for the 11th highest gas prices in the lower 48 states, AAA said. The highest gas prices in the nation are in Alaska, with an average of $3.52 per gallon. California’s average of $3.14 is the highest when Alaska and Hawaii are excluded.