AUSTRALIAN MOTORISTS are being charged too much for premium petrol, according to insurer NRMA.
NRMA analysed the price of high-octane petrol between June 28, 2006 and September 13, 2009, finding that the price differential between premium and regular unleaded had risen to between three and four cents more than it should be.
“Clearly something is not right,” said NRMA President Wendy Machin.
“On July 29, 2007 the weekly average gap between regular and 98 octane petrol was around nine cents a litre, on August 30, 2009 the gap was almost 15 cents.
“We have taken the extra cost associated with refining high-grade fuels into consideration and there is still a considerable gap.”
The NRMA also found 95 octane unleaded now retails for 10 cents more than regular petrol - an important consideration for many new car buyers, considering some vehicles - like the Suzuki Alto - require 95 octane fuel to run optimally.
“Many motorists have no choice but to use high-grade fuels for their vehicles and it appears they are being overcharged,” Ms Machin said.
The NRMA has written to the ACCC’s Petrol Commissioner Joe Dimasi demanding an investigation into the widening price gap between regular and premium petrol be launched. Mr Dimasi has yet to issue an official response.
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clearly the CCC doesn’t give a rats about the price fixing and collusion that’s been going on for juvt over a decade now - I have no choice but to fillup with 98RON which is sometimes in short supply in Perth’s caltex stations, or priced at about 12-14cpl higher at BP stations, even though both are laughing while they fix their prices to illegally high levels.
ACCC I mean - the whole system is useless and doesn’t have any power to stop the [oil] mafia
Agree with you there Adam. I need to use 98RON but luckily where I am in Perth there are two Caltex stations closish. They’re all gouging and I find BP to be one of the worst offenders. Seems like the ACCC can do nothing about it though. I work in the oil industry, and i’m still angry! haha.
I have a 2001 Outback and even though it is designed for 91 it runs like an absolute dog on it so I have to use 95.
Where I am 95 is $1.40 a litre.
I have also found a couple of servos in my travels that have ditched their 95 pumps and replaced them with 98, screwing us even further.
Doubt the ACCC will do much about this. They never have before so why would they start doing their job now?
Many cars only require 95 octane & for these 98 RON gives virtually no extra mileage (& is not cost effective), but fewer & fewer servos have 95 pumps (Shell & particularly Shell Coles are noticeably bad at getting rid of most of their 95 pumps – their website shows only a handful of 95 pumps in all Sydney). So we are forced to waste money buying 98. I have given up on Coles & am changing to servos that sell 95 as it saves far more than the discount coupons are worth.
Additionally it is very difficult to know which pumps belong to which octane rating – usually not displayed on the pumps & the staff rarely know. In the UK all pumps have a 1->5 star rating on their pumps for instant octane recognition. I cannot understand why state/ national government Consumer Affairs don’t legislate this ’star rating’ as compulsory here, so we can cut through all the petrol company branding & marketing to find exactly what we need for each vehicle & save us all money.
I have read with interest in relation to the NRMA’s position in relation to motorists being overcharged in relation to premium grade petrol. As I understand the situation service stations are required by law to advertise the prices they are charging in relation to regular and diesel fuels using large signs to inform the motorist before he or she enters the service station. One way of making sure the motorist knows what he is up for before entering the service station is to amend the regulations to make it compulsory for the prices of 95 and 98 octane petrol is also advertised in the same way. This will have a practical effect in warning the motorist in a similar way thereby allowing the motorist to make an informed choice before he or she enters the service station.
Please acknowledge your response to this email and your comment.
Clive Steirn
NRMA Member.