It’s never been ‘fun’ to fill the tank, but now it’s positively painful. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
It’s been a volatile time for petrol prices as the war with Iran sent oil prices skyrocketing and panic buying drove up demand across Australia.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) suspected some retailers of taking advantage of the situation to inflate prices at the pump.
The consumer watchdog announced it will keep a close eye on prices and price rises, which has helped stabilise costs.
“We know that many consumers are doing it tough and are frustrated by the rapid changes they have seen,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
“We expect petrol retailers to explain to us and the Australian public how they have arrived at their prices.
“We welcome government plans to move to increase the maximum penalties for relevant breaches of Australian Consumer Law and the Competition and Consumer Act from $50 million to $100 million, and will seek the highest penalties appropriate in any cases we bring to the courts.”
Ms Brakey recommended motorists use fuel apps to pick the cheapest spot to fuel up.
Data from FuelCheck shows there is still a spread of costs per litre across the Illawarra.
The cheapest place to fill a tank today is Metro Petroleum in Warilla, at 222.9 cents per litre for E10.
The next-cheapest options are all in Port Kembla, with Mobil, Enhance, and Pearl Energy stations all offering E10 at 223.9 cents per litre.
The most expensive places to fuel up are in the northern and southern ends of the region.
Ampol Thirroul is charging 245.9 cents per litre for E10, and Enhance Gerringong is charging 255.9.
The owner of Enhance Gerringong took to social media to explain their prices to customers.
“As many of you know, we’re an independent petrol station, and we’re doing our absolute best to keep fuel affordable for our local community – especially during these tough times,” they said.
“But we’re currently facing a challenge that a lot of independent stations across Australia are dealing with.
“We have limited tank capacity (only 8000 litres), and we don’t hold onto old stock.
“So every time we refill, we’re paying for today’s high wholesale prices – and passing on the lowest price we possibly can.
“You might notice the Ampol station nearby has different pricing, and that’s because they’re part of a larger network with different buying power and supply arrangements.
“For small independents like us, it’s a constant battle to compete.”
If you’re looking for the cheapest place near you to fuel up, head to the NSW Government’s FuelCheck website for updates in real time.
