SA petrol prices at lowest price in decades, but not in the regions
Petrol prices are at their lowest point in decades in the suburbs, but further out in the regions, motorists are paying far more.
SA News
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Adelaide motorists are enjoying fuel prices at 20-year lows, while those in regional areas are still paying almost 50c a litre more.
Unleaded fuel was 75.9c/l in Adelaide’s western suburbs on Tuesday, but in Port Augusta, the highest price was 123.7c/l and 119c/l in Naracoorte.
It followed March data from the Australian Automobile Association showing Adelaide had the cheapest average unleaded petrol in the nation at 115c/l.
RAA spokesman Mark Borlace said on a global scale, the fuel industry was entering into uncharted territory, and prices were likely to stay low for “as long as planes aren’t flying”.
He added if motorists could fill up for 75c/l, they were getting fuel 8c/l cheaper than what stations could buy it for.
“Businesses often do that to preserve (car) volumes and to attract people in to buy their coffee, bread and fast food,” he said. A lack of competition was a reason why prices were higher in the country, he said, with Naracoorte, Port Augusta, Coober Pedy and Ceduna the dearest places to fill up.
The SA Productivity Commission is investigating real-time fuel pricing, which the RAA says could save motorists up to $300 a year.
It argues direct access to bowser prices at nearby stations would increase competition.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission points out that commercial price apps in SA do not display the cheapest prices available and were often out of date.
“The government schemes are the most comprehensive and up to date,’’ the ACCC wrote it its latest report.
Private providers of fuel-price apps have lobbied the State Government against introducing a Government-backed app, arguing their products make it unnecessary.