An inspection of more than 28,000 gas pumps in Colorado in 2010 found that 97 percent were accurate and within acceptable tolerance limits, the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety said today.
Of the three percent that were out of tolerance, two-thirds were dispensing more than the meter register showed, favoring the consumer, according to Mahesh Albuquerque, the division’s director.
Albuquerque said that because of routine wear and tear, seals and valves inside the pump meters gradually deteriorate, allowing more gas to flow through the meter registers, giving consumers a bonus.
Only one-third of the three percent that were out of tolerance were shorting the consumer, according to Albuquerque.
In those cases, clogged and malfunctioning meters gave customers slightly less gas than they paid for.
He said that as far as quality, more than 99 percent of the gasoline and diesel tested met specifications.
“Our inspectors perform unannounced inspections throughout the year, not just when prices are high. Our low non-compliance rates indicates that the routine regulations by weights and measures officials is doing its job in protecting the marketplace,” he said.
“We don’t favor the retailer or the consumer,” said Albuquerque. “We’re in favor of accuracy and equity in the marketplace.”
Albuquerque said that the increase in fuel prices is resulting in an increase in the number of consumer complaints to his agency, which is part of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
But the number of documented violations do not tend to increase with fuel prices, he said.Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
