AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Four dozen Texas gasoline stations accused of Hurricane Harvey-related price gouging have agreed to issue refunds to purchasers.
Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday announced the nearly $167,000 settlement in an investigation in which some stations allegedly charged as much as $8.99 per gallon.
Harvey made landfall in South Texas last Aug. 25. Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster as Harvey approached, activating a provision of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act that makes price gouging illegal.
Paxton’s office received thousands of complaints about overpriced fuel. All 48 stations that settled charged $3.99 or higher per gallon of gasoline or diesel.
Paxton says most violations were by stations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Consumers need to fill out claim forms to seek refunds.
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