ND fuel dealers claim pipeline company misled them

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Eastern North Dakota fuel dealers allege a pipeline company’s alleged deception about unleaded gasoline supplies forced them to buy fuel from other, costlier sources.

Mike Rud of the North Dakota Petroleum Marketers Association asked the state Public Service Commission today to intervene in an argument with Magellan Midstream Partners of Tulsa, Oklahoma, which operates a pipeline that supplies fuel to petroleum terminals in Fargo and Grand Forks.


Magellan uses recorded telephone messages to provide updates of fuel availability.

Rud alleged in a letter to the PSC that the message on the morning of August 17th said the Grand Forks terminal was out of unleaded gas and had no immediate prospects for getting more.

Rud’s letter said the same message could be heard early August 20th, but it was updated later that morning to say there were more than 70 loads available.

He alleges Magellan knew the fuel would arrive in Grand Forks before the message was updated.

AP