Gas prices dip below $2 in the Mat-Su

MEADOW LAKES — Each of the eight gas pumps at the Three Bears Shell station in Meadow Lakes were occupied on Tuesday afternoon as drivers lined up to take advantage of prices that dipped below $2 for a gallon of unleaded gasoline.

“It’s been crazy busy,” said store manager Brianna Niccolson, who said Three Bears stores in Meadow Lakes, on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and in Chugiak moved prices below two bucks on Monday.

The prices appear to be the lowest in Southcentral Alaska, according to an informal survey of local prices and online watchdog anchoragegasprices.com. On Tuesday, most stations in Anchorage and the Mat-Su were advertising gasoline at anywhere from $2.09 per gallon to $2.18 per gallon.

Three Bears clerk Nicholas Garver said the station’s prices are actually even lower with a $.05 discount for cash customers.

“We’ve always been the lowest in the Valley,” he said.

The low gas prices are a result of oil prices that have plunged in recent months. The drop in oil prices has been a boon for commuters, but has also caused trouble for Alaska’s economy. The state relies heavily on oil and gas production to pay its bills, and state officials say the oil price slump means Alaska is facing a $3.5 to $4 billion budget deficit.

That wasn’t a concern of Wasilla’s Henry Casto on Tuesday as he gladly took advantage of the low prices in Meadow Lakes by filling his F-150 pick-up as well as nearly a dozen plastic gas cans.

“I emptied them this summer and I’m filling ‘em up now,” Casto said with a grin.

He said his wife tipped him off to the low prices Tuesday morning.

“She figured it was time I got gas,” he said.

Casto said he figured prices might not get any better, so he wanted to stock up while he can. However, he did acknowledge he’s taking a risk if prices go even lower.

“I’m gonna be sick if the prices go down even more,” he said with a laugh.

According to gasbuddy.com, average U.S. prices currently range from $1.35 in Oklahoma to about $2.64 in Hawaii. On Tuesday, the website said Alaska’s prices are currently averaging $2.29 per gallon.