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Read the press release here.

Bloomberg Extends Gas Rationing Plan

By Jess Wisloski | November 18, 2012 4:20pm

NEW YORK CITY — With 30 percent of gas stations still non-functional nearly three weeks after Hurricane Sandy's departure, Mayor Bloomberg extended an order for rationing gas purchases Sunday.

The odd-even rationing system helped reduce lines and stabilized fuel purchasing, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said, but facing one of the heaviest travel weeks of the necessitated the extension of the mandate past it's original end date of Sunday, he said.

“The odd-even license plate system has worked well and helped to reduce wait times and lines at the pump,” Bloomberg said.

“I am extending the successful odd-even system on gas and diesel fuel purchases to ensure we do not risk going back to the extreme lines we saw prior to the system being implemented.”

The executive order will now extend until the day after Thanksgiving, ending Friday Nov. 23.

Using the system, drivers whose license plates end in an odd number, a letter or other character, can only buy gas or diesel fuel on odd-numbered days. License plates that end in even numbers, including the number zero, will be able to buy gas only on even-numbered days.

Emergency vehicles, commercial trucks and delivery vehicles, taxis and medical shuttle buses like Access-a-Ride have always been exempt from the rule.

As of Friday, 70 percent of the city's gas stations were open — up from 20 percent the week before.