AS PRICES RISE, USA PETROLEUM SHUTS DOWN GAS PUMPS.

Byline: Evan Pondel Staff Writer

Zooming gas prices have independent retailers fuming as USA Petroleum is forced to shut its pumps down at several stations in Los Angeles.

Independent retailers have been hit hard in recent months as the price of gasoline continues to skyrocket on the spot market.

While larger companies set the price of gas according to the production of their refineries, USA must absorb the extra cost of purchasing gas on the spot market.

``USA is getting killed in zone pricing by the major oil companies,'' said Bob Van der Valk, manager of fuel supply for regional gas supplier Cosby Oil. ``They cannot afford to charge the customers what they should.''

The price of gas on the spot market was hovering around $1.90 per gallon earlier this month, including taxes and transportation, according to the Oil Price Information Service.

Before the USA station on the corner of Parthenia Street and Tampa Avenue in Northridge closed its pumps, unleaded gas was $1.79 for regular and $1.99 for the highest octane, said Harry Gulati, manager of the station.

Now, yellow caution tape encircles the gas islands at the USA stations in Northridge, West Los Angeles, Thousand Oaks and Camarillo.

``This is ridiculous; it's not fair,'' said 44-year-old Roger Rarden, who drives a 1990 Ford Aerostar. ``Ever since the price of gas rose, I haven't had a full tank of gas - I'm just giving my car $10 shots.''

A letter explaining USA's situation is posted on the sliding glass doors of the mini-mart. Mark Conant, president of Agoura Hills-based USA Gas, did not return repeated messages.

The letter, signed by Connant, discusses four options the company has explored amid rising fuel prices.

The first option is to raise gas prices. However, the letter said that raising retail prices would deter customers and sully the gas station's reputation as an independent.

In the two years Gulati has worked at the station, he said, the pumps have shut down at least five times due to price hikes.

``That's why we're using a letter dated from August,'' Gulati said. ``The company just told us to shut down the pumps again, and we don't know when they'll be back up.''

The company highlights the fourth option, to ``temporarily stop selling gasoline,'' as a logical solution because it's the most economically feasible for the company and its customers.

``They (USA) don't want to get their customers ticked off at them,'' Van der Valk said.

Though unable to fill their gas tanks, customers can still fill their stomachs at the Northridge station's mini-mart.

``The store's sales are still fine and our customers will return when the pumps go on,'' Gulati said. But as motorists continue to feel the pinch at the pump, gas prices could rise for several months until they're capped off.

``I don't see the prices going down, and I drive 40,000 miles a year,'' said 43-year-old Curtis Zuckman as he got into his Saturn. ``It's really hurting me economically.''

To combat the burgeoning prices, USA might rebrand stations throughout Los Angeles with Chevron signs and gas, although the company has made no formal announcements about rebranding since March.

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Photo:

(color) The pumps have been shut down and taped off, although the convenience store remains open at the USA gas station at Tampa Avenue and Parthenia Street in Northridge. Gas won't be sold until prices dip, officials say.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer