STATE GAS STATION LABELING ALMOST FLAWLESS

Compliance Greater Than 99 Percent

SACRAMENTO, May 3, 2001-California gas stations are nearly perfect when it comes to labeling compliance, according to a recent survey by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Measurement Standards.

The survey, which was completed earlier this year, found that 99.3 percent of gasoline tested carried the octane level specified. More than 300 gas stations were randomly selected for inspection, out of a total of approximately 10 thousand. The great majority of the stations were so-called “major brand”, including Arco, Chevron, Exxon, Mobil and Shell.

“This is encouraging news for consumers,” said CDFA Secretary William (Bill) J. Lyons, Jr. “It’s critical that Californians have confidence that they’re getting what they pay for”.

The survey also checked the stations for the accuracy of their pricing information, showing a compliance rate of almost 92 percent. Most of the violations were minor and technical in nature rather than suspected fraud.

The survey found improvements in both areas compared to the previous survey, which was conducted in 1995.

CDFA’s Division of Measurement Standards oversees the weights and measures process for all of California, with an emphasis on ensuring accuracy of commercial and measuring devices, verifying the quantity of both bulk and packaged commodities, and enforcing quality, advertising and labeling standards for most petroleum products.

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FLEX YOUR POWER. To meet California’s energy challenge, CDFA urges businesses and consumers to conserve. For a list of simple ways that you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our Web site @www.cdfa.ca.gov.