Taxes - Connecticut has a "Petroleum Gross Reciepts Tax," referenced above, that is charged in addition to the Connecticut State Excise Tax.  Below reflects the GRT tax rates in effect currently and how those taxes are scheduled to go up automatically.

Prices at the Pump   

• Click Here to see a break down of all costs and taxes that make up the price of a gallon of gasoline in Connecticut [average]

National Overview.  Click here and be redirected to the U.S. Department of Energy's Weekly Updates on the Gasoline and Diesel markets across the country.

Cleaner Fuels.  In 2003 the Connecticut General Assembly passed a law eliminating MTBE from the supply of gasoline being delivered to the state, effective January 1, 2004.  The additive replacing MTBE as an octane enhancer is ethanol, as mandated by the same law.  Only New York and Connecticut will use ethanol in the entire Northeast, complicating the industry's ability to supply the fuel and reducing our supply options should we have any difficulty with ethanol supply.  Every other state around New York and Connecticut uses Reformulated Gasoline with MTBE.

 Competition.  There are 1,576 motor fuels outlets in the State of Connecticut that annually sell more than 1.6 billion gallons of gasoline to the state's motorists.  These stations are owned and operated primarily by "jobbers," or local owners of the service stations without connection to the refining industry.  These jobbers have invested millions of local dollars in environmental improvements to their properties in replacing underground tanks and providing for leak detection and prevention, Stage II vapor recovery to help keep our air clean and a host of other investments in new pumps and other improvements to the service stations of today.

• Have your car tuned regularly. An engine tune-up can improve car fuel economy by an average of 1 mile per gallon.
• Keep your tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can decrease fuel economy by up to 1 mile per gallon.
• Slow down. The faster you drive, the more gasoline your car uses. Driving at 65 miles per hour rather than 55 miles per hour reduces fuel economy by about 2 miles per gallon.
• Avoid jackrabbit starts. Abrupt starts require about twice as much gasoline as gradual starts.
• Pace your driving. Unnecessary speedups, slowdowns and stops can decrease fuel economy by up to 2 miles per gallon. Stay alert and drive steadily, not erratically. Keep a reasonable, safe distance from the car ahead of you and anticipate traffic conditions.
• Use your air conditioner sparingly. The use of air conditioning can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2 miles per gallon under certain speeds and operating conditions.
• Avoid lengthy engine idling. Turn your engine off when you are delayed for more than a couple of minutes.
• Plan your trips carefully. Combine short trips into one to do all your errands. Avoid traveling during rush hours if possible, to reduce fuel-consumption patterns such as starting and stopping and numerous idling periods. Consider joining a car pool.