Station Sends Text Alerts as Gas Prices Rise

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS - Gas prices are nowhere near what they were a year ago, but when costs go up at the pump it is still frustrating. An Inver Grove gas station is letting drivers know just when the price will rise using text messaging.

Tony Donatell is the manager at the Super Stop gas station at Inver Grove Heights. He is warning customers about gas prices.

He says customers would complain about the increase in gas prices, saying it is not fair. So now, when the gas prices are about to rise, Donatell sends out a gas alert text at 9 a.m. Customers have about five hours to gas up before prices shoot up.

If customers can’t make it by the afternoon, the lower price is honored until 10 p.m., with the text.

“People were getting frustrated because they didn't get done with work until 5 or 6 p.m.,” said Donatell.

Brooks Cornell drives from station to station, looking to save a dime. He says an electronic alert would work great with his high technology lifestyle.

AAA’s Dawn Duffy says she wouldn't be surprised if more stations jumped on board, targeting generation X and Y.

To get the gas alerts, Text GAS to 25927, go to http://superstopgas.com/ , or call 651-455-4910.