Flashlights Are A Hot Commodity

You you just woke up.

You go through the cabinets.

Hmm.

Where are they? Irene is almost here.

Uh Oh.

No flashlights.

Good luck finding one. It's been open season on flashlights ever since the details of Hurricane Irene began circulating.

"It;s been nuts in here the last two days and I expect it to be nuts again in here on Saturday,'' said Rita Motyka, a manager at Rocky's Ace Hardware on Route 83.

She was pointing to a near-empty display of flashlights on Friday morning. In the aisle was a customer pointing to the same display yelling, "the hype is on everyone.''

"Sorry to interrupt, but I have ask about this,'' a customer said. He had found something he liked - a flashlight with retraceable legs, but he wasn't sure how to work it.

Once it was discovered the batteries went into the legs, he took it to the checkout station.

Batteries were also a hot commodity and were going fast both at Rocky's and at KMart down the road.

"I'm not sure what will be left by Saturday,'' Motyka said.

With the buying frenzy came ins at local gas stations - and a stern warning from Attorney General George Jepsen.

Jepsen has announced an ''imminent abnormal market disruption'' in energy resources under Connecticut General Statutes Section 42-234, putting wholesalers, retailers and consumers on notice that charging unconscionably excessive prices for gasoline, heating fuels and other energy resources is prohibited.

Under the notice, posted today on the Attorney General’s website at www.ct.gov/ag/site/default.asp , the abnormal market disruption period began at 1 p.m. today and runs through midnight, Wednesday, unless otherwise amended.

 “Consumers need to be aware that in times of anticipated market disruption on energy products, some unscrupulous market players may seek to extract excessive profits from consumers,” Jepsen said. “If anyone suspects excessive profiteering, they should report it.

"My office and the Department of Consumer Protection will monitor the market and consumer complaints, will act accordingly to halt any such practices, and seek penalties as needed against violators.”