Real-time petrol prices could save Adelaide motorists up to $55 million each year

ADELAIDE motorists could be saving up to $55 million each year if they had access to online information to allow them to dodge the highest bowser prices — but the Government won’t act.

• RAA plan for live petrol pricing rejected by State Government
• Study finds petrol stations colluding to rip off motorists
• Motorists lured by cheap fuel to spend more
• Live petrol pricing saves NSW motorists $6 a tank

ADELAIDE motorists could save up to $55 million each year if they had access to real-time petrol prices on the internet allowing them to avoid days with the highest bowser prices.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has estimated the savings – 3.3 cents per litre on average – by excluding the six days with the highest price in the monthly Adelaide fuel cycle.

ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said the study had proven correct across state capitals.

“Motorists who fill up weekly can make substantial savings by (planning on) avoiding the six most expensive days in the price cycle,” he said.

“This would see annual savings of $141 million in Sydney, $124 million in Melbourne, $68 million in Brisbane and $55 million in Adelaide.’’

The ACCC found a more practical saving in Adelaide would be $30 million because most motorists could go only six days before needing to fill up, saving on average 3.3 cents a litre.

But while the ACCC report found fuel price information would make this possible, SA currently has no internet service giving motorists the exact real-time price for each petrol station.

The RAA has been lobbying the South Australian government to set up its own website, as has already been done in other states, but the Government rejected the need for this.

“Real-time data is the most important and that is why we support apps that have that,” RAA spokesman Mark Borlace said.

Attorney-General John Rau said he was waiting on a report about the issue from the RAA.

The ACCC’s quarterly September report on the Australian petroleum market is part of an ongoing monitoring effort by the ACCC.

Opposition spokesperson Corey Wingard said the Liberal Party was looking at options for publishing petrol prices to put downward pressure on prices.

“South Australians are paying some of the highest household bills in the nation and need greater state government support,” he said.

“Easing cost of living pressures will be a major focus of a Marshall Liberal Government, if we are elected in March next year.”

Petrol pain in Adelaide

Unleaded petrol across Adelaide ranged from 116 to 144 cents per litre yesterday as the price spiked.

South Australian motorists do not have access to real-time data to compare prices.

The ACCC estimates Adelaide motorists could save up to $55 million each year if they avoided buying on the worst 10 days of the price cycle.