Drivers across northern Taos County are finding it harder to fill up their vehicles as gas stations in Questa, Cerro and Costilla are reporting fuel shortages, with some grades of gasoline completely unavailable.

As of July 28, the Questa and Cerro gas stations have run out of premium and plus gasoline, attributing the shortages to an increase in tourism traffic that has driven up demand during the busy summer season.

A source familiar with station operations, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said fuel tank readings are sent to the owners every morning and evening to help ensure fuel is ordered before supplies run low.

According to the source, inventory management extends beyond fuel deliveries. “We order products as needed to fill shelves as needed,” the source said when asked about in-store inventory.

Some community members have also expressed concerns that the stations’ overall product selection is not as robust as it was under previous ownership.

The source said fluctuating fuel prices have created additional challenges for forecasting demand and placing orders.

“The economy has been somewhat unstable due to gas prices fluctuating so significantly in recent months. This is making it difficult to establish a steady baseline for what needs to be ordered. It also makes it difficult to create a plan for upcoming months.”

As of publication, premium and plus gasoline remained unavailable at some of the affected locations, according to local residents.

We reached out to the stations’ owners for official comment regarding the fuel shortages, inventory concerns and ordering process. We did not receive a response by publication time.