CAPE ELIZABETH – Thanks to a long-running price war, the cheapest gas in Maine can be found in one of the state’s wealthiest communities.
Two gas stations at Ocean House and Scott Dyer roads — Jonesy’s and Cumberland Farms — regularly sell gas at prices far below the state average. On Thursday, both stations were charging $3.39 for a gallon of regular unleaded — 35 cents less than the statewide average of $3.74.
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“I just love that they’re having a little war out here,” said Robert Platts of South Portland as he filled up his pickup truck at Jonesy’s. Platts, who delivers newspapers, said he saves about $30 a week filling up at one of the gas stations.
According to MaineGasPrices.com, a gallon of regular unleaded was selling for $3.71 at the Irving station in Cape Elizabeth, $3.69 at the Sunoco station on Forest Avenue in Portland, and $3.79 at Citgo on Congress Street in Portland.
In Cape Elizabeth — where the median annual income of $76,741 is about 67 percent higher than the statewide median income — locals have watched for years as the two gas stations in the town center have battled to offer the lowest price. On any day, lines of cars stretch across the parking lots as customers wait to gas up.
Gas prices have been dropping recently. Maine’s average of $3.74 a gallon is down 15 cents from $3.89 a year ago at this time. But the downward trend doesn’t deter people from driving miles out of their way to save a few dollars on gas.
On Wednesday afternoon, Bill Johnston of South Portland stopped at Jonesy’s to fill up the 36-gallon tank of his truck. He said saving about $9 on a fill-up by driving to Cape Elizabeth is worth it, but he wonders how the gas stations can set such low prices.
“How can he sell it for 30 cents a gallon less?” Johnston wondered out loud, pointing to the price on the pump.
It’s a mystery, since both gas stations have corporate owners who declined to comment. Local managers said they couldn’t talk about pricing and declined to comment.
Marie Jordan of South Portland drives to Cape Elizabeth every 10 days or so to fill up her full-size pickup truck. At about $130 per fill-up, driving a few extra miles is worth it to save some cash, she said. Her teenage sons also go out of their way for cheaper gas.
“They’re really looking to save a dime,” she said.
Across the street at Cumberland Farms, Tina Sweeney of Cape Elizabeth pulled in to top off her tank. She said she has watched the price battle for years.
“This is the best one ever,” she said. “When you fill up a tank, 30 cents difference per gallon is a lot.”
Tim Rickett, a construction worker from South Portland, stops at the Cape Elizabeth gas stations several times a week to fill up his work van. He logs about 100 miles a day and makes sure to avoid higher gas prices near his work sites in the midcoast.
When he takes advantage of Cape Elizabeth’s gas price war, he said, “Every time I fill up, I get a couple of gallons for nothing.”
Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:
ggraham@mainetoday.com
Twitter: grahamgillian
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