Arizona pump prices continue to climb in response to Texas gas shutdown

PHOENIX – Prices at the pump are soaring in Arizona and they will climb even more over the next week, an industry analyst said Wednesday.

The statewide average has jumped to $2.83 a gallon, 25 cents higher than exactly a week ago, according to fuel-tracking website Gas Buddy. Phoenix is averaging $2.89 and Tucson is seeing $2.76 a gallon.

Patrick DeHaan with Gas Buddy said last week’s mammoth winter storm that put Texas into a deep freeze is behind the higher cost of filling up. Many refineries were taken offline as a safety precaution.

Nearly a dozen refineries in the Lone Star State have shut down in part because of that extreme weather. Temperatures dropped below zero, snow and ice brought cities to a standstill and the energy grid buckled under the demand. Millions were left without power.

The largest oil refinery in the country, Motiva Enterprises in Port Arthur, Texas, put operations on hold.

“A predominant source of Arizona’s gas supply, specifically eastern Arizona, is via those Texas refineries that were shut down,” DeHaan said.

Prices will likely inch up over the next five to seven days, De Haan said. Diesel was up 30 cents from a month ago and 18 cents from last week.

“Overall, I was expecting a 10 to 20 cent increase in the price of gasoline per gallon but due to Arizona’s proximity to the Texas refineries, prices have shot up slightly more than expected,” he said.

The national average is $2.66, which is up eight cents from last week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow @Crossfire923