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The State Energy Office says Hurricane Ike hasn’t affected gas supply in Florida, but that hasn’t stopped some stations from charging $5.50 a gallon. As Whitney Ray tells us, investigators are watching gas station owners like a hawk.

Hear it Here: Gas Prices Soar Above $5.49 a Gallon, AG’s Office Investigates Price Gouging Claims

Some gas stations around the state have jacked up prices on the fear that Hurricane Ike will disrupt supply. Gas prices at a Tallahassee station on Monroe Street is normally some of the cheapest in the state, now the price is five and a half bucks. We broke the news to people who didn’t see the sign before they pulled up to the pump.

“No I though it was $3.50, oh lord, oh lord, let me get back in my car,” said Kizzie McPhaul.

“You’re about to pump a lot of gas you might want to hit cancel. Yeah that’s what I’m doing right now… wow… I appreciate it fellas,” said BJ Lizotte as he cancelled his order.

The Attorney Generals office sent an investigator to check out the price hike… He wouldn’t talk, but a spokeswoman says more than 20 complaints of gas price gouging have been reported by two o’clock Friday afternoon.

“We have been receiving complaints by the hour and if we see something that doesn’t look right we want to make sure we get the information as soon as possible,” said Sandi Copes.

If gas station owners are found guilty of price gouging, they’d face fines as high as a thousand dollars per sale. To report suspicious spikes in gas prices you can call the Attorney General’s price gouging hotline at 1-866-966-7226.