Georgia gas prices increased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $2.76 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 6 cents more than a week ago, 6 cents more than last month, and $1.13 more than this time last year.

It now costs motorists $41.40 to fill a 15-gallon tank of gasoline; that is $4.50 more than what motorists paid in January of 2020 when pump prices hit their peak of $2.46 per gallon.

AAA forecasts gas prices to climb this week in reaction to the shutdown of the Colonial Pipeline, which delivers approximately 45% of all fuel to the East Coast. Over the weekend, the Colonial Pipeline announced they were the victim of a cybersecurity attack and, as a precaution, shut down the pipeline, which runs from Texas to New York Harbor. At this time, some lateral lines have reopened, but there is no word of when the mainline, including the gasoline line, will be operational.

The longer the pipeline is offline, the larger the impact on the east coast. However, foreign gasoline imports and other pipelines can supplement Northeastern supply. Other areas of the country will see little impact.

In Chattooga County, the average gallon of gas is costing $2.68 per gallon as of Monday.