ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester’s average gas price hit $4.38 per gallon on Monday, a one-cent drop from a week ago and a five-cent drop from a month ago.
Although New York State is switching to winter blend gas, which is less expensive to produce, gas prices remain high with the Strait of Hormuz still closed, impacting global oil supplies. Crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, remains above $100 per barrel amid the war with Iran.
The national average for gas is currently around $4.28 per gallon, according to AAA. It has stayed above $4 per gallon since late July and is $1.23 higher compared to a year ago. For Rochester’s average, it’s about $1.21 higher than a year ago.
Rochester’s average is three cents higher than Buffalo’s average and six cents higher than Syracuse’s average. You can see more trends in gas prices on AAA’s website here.
What’s the difference between summer and winter blend?
The summer blend of gas, which is more expensive to produce, evaporates more slowly in warm weather to prevent smog from forming on hot days. The winter blend, on the other hand, contains more butane to help car engines start in freezing temperatures. News10NBC spoke with Elizabeth Carey from AAA of Western and Central New York about the difference.
“The EPA put these rules in place because they don’t want gasoline evaporating at high temperatures over the summer and causing smog and other environmental issues. It’s costing more to produce all of this, and also there’s a higher demand, so unfortunately, we pay more in the summer for those road trips and just fueling up on a regular basis,” Carey said.
Gas stations in the northeastern U.S. typically transition to winter-blend gasoline starting in mid-September through November.
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