Source: NCDA&CS, 8/4/11

The N.C. Board of Agriculture will meet Wednesday, Aug. 10, to consider updating regulations for the posting of fuel prices. The meeting, which is open to the public, will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the State Fairgrounds’ Hunt Horse Complex.

The rule change is aimed at making sure consumers know when a gas station charges different prices for cash and credit card purchases of fuel. In rural areas of the state, there still are mechanical or analog fuel dispensers that can calculate only one price. Generally, these pumps display the cash price. The station may take credit card purchases inside the store, but the customer needs to know before buying fuel that there are two prices, said Stephen Benjamin, director of the Standards Division at the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Existing rules already require different prices to be “conspicuously displayed.” The proposal before the board will require additional labeling to draw customers’ attention to the difference in price for credit card payments, Benjamin said.

The Board of Agriculture is a policy-making body that adopts regulations for many of the programs administered by the department. Its 10 members are appointed by the governor. The commissioner of agriculture serves as chairman of the board.