RAA calls on Adelaide drivers to boycott outlets charging more than 130c a litre for unleaded petrol
MOTORISTS are paying outrageously high prices for petrol this month because major fuel retailers are keeping prices too high for too long, the RAA says.
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MOTORISTS are paying outrageously high prices for petrol this month because major fuel retailers are keeping prices too high for too long, the RAA says.
The state’s largest motoring organisation is calling on Adelaide drivers to boycott outlets charging more than 130c a litre for unleaded petrol in an effort to force prices lower across the city.
Earlier this month, prices soared to 143.9c/l — the highest since August 2015 — and remained around this level for a week, or much longer than normal for the typical Adelaide price cycle, RAA senior analyst Chris West said.
Adelaide ULP prices averaged almost 129c/l on Friday — only 3c/l cheaper than Ceduna — and higher than usual for the price cycle, Mr West said.
In comparison, wholesale ULP prices were 118.5c/l.
There were also huge variations within the metropolitan region as well on Friday, with unleaded petrol selling as low 114.9c/l at Mogas on Henley Beach Rd at Brooklyn Park compared with 136.7c/l at the Coles outlet on West Lakes Blvd, West Lakes.
This represented a more than $10 difference in the cost of filling the tank of a typical family sedan, prompting Mr West to urge motorists to shop around.
“Many retailers were going too high for too long, while some smaller independent retailers said ‘no’ and wouldn’t follow,’’ Mr West said.
“Prices this year are outrageous and the 143.9c/l spike was way too high but thankfully the independents were prepared to continue offering really good prices.’’
Mr West said such huge price spikes were making motorists more costs sensitive and prepared to shop around.
But as the RAA was “no longer able to provide site-specific service station prices online due to an unintended consequence of an ACCC agreement with the fuel industry’’, Mr West said shopping around was more difficult for drivers.
“When we named and shamed retailers we got a reaction but we can’t do that anymore,’’ he said.
“But if motorists are still seeing prices in the high 130s a litre, they should boycott them.’’
Based on previous price cycles, Mr West expected to see prices continuing to fall.
“For this cycle, we want to sees prices bottom out to 120c/l or below,’ he said.
While there were huge price variations across the city, Mr West said it was “about time’’ motorists in the outer northern and southern suburbs had access to cheaper prices.