Gov. Steve Beshear signed the order on Friday, saying gas stations started raising fuel prices overnight before the storm made landfall.

Beshear signed the order at the request of Attorney General Jack Conway, who said in a letter released Friday that invoking the law now will help prevent predatory pricing.

Conway's spokeswoman Allison Martin said the Attorney General's office has received reports of gas rising to $4.20 in some locations and exceeding $4.50 others.