The Associated Press reported prices ranging from $3 to $6 a gallon in a few cities after Tuesday's terrorist attacks. Wild reports of skyrocketing gas prices sent consumers from Mississippi to California scurrying to the pumps.

Even in Augusta, where there was no sign of rising prices, some motorists went out of their way to fill up their tanks ''just in case.''

Officials from local gas station chains said Wednesday that retail prices will increase only if their suppliers raise costs.

The nation's largest oil companies have frozen their prices for an unspecified period and pledged to keep distribution steady. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has reported that gasoline supply to the state is steady and is expected to remain so.

Experts say the few isolated price spikes across the country should roll back as distribution questions have been answered.

''There is some sense of normalcy returning,'' said Tom Kloza, a researcher for OPIS Energy. ''It was very isolated behavior, attributable to the fact that stations thought they might not be able to get gas for a while.''

OunJanice McClam fills up at a Walton Way Exxon. She was assured by the clerk that gas prices would not rise. ANNETTE M. DROWLETTE/STAFF

Mr. Kloza said he had heard of only ''about a half-dozen'' incidents of gas price gouging in the nation Tuesday. There are more than 180,000 gas stations operating in the United States.

Georgia Emergency Management Agency representatives said they had unconfirmed reports of gas price gouging in Rome and Jonesboro, but none relating to stations in Augusta.

The agriculture department, which regulates gas distribution, has deployed more than 100 state inspectors to hunt for price gougers throughout Georgia. The department will report findings to the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Georgia Emergency Management Agency for investigation and further action.

Consumers can report instances of price gouging to the U.S. Department of Energy at (800) 244-3301, the state Department of Agriculture at (800) 282-5852 or locally to the Augusta-Richmond County Emergency Management Agency at 821-1155.

Local averages

Wednesday's average price per gallon for gasoline in Augusta suggests area retailers have not been price gouging:

Wednesday: $1.295

Tuesday: $1.315

One month ago: $1.252

One year ago: $1.406

Reach John Bankston at (706) 823-3352 or john.banks@augustachronicle.com.