South Australian drivers are saving $55m a year by using real-time petrol price monitoring apps, new RAA data has found.
It comes as the government begins a fuel price inspection blitz ahead of an anticipated rise in interstate travel ahead of the AFL Grand Final.
According to the RAA’s new fuel report, 33 per cent of surveyed drivers said they had begun using fuel price apps more often since the conflict in the Middle East saw a global oil price spike.
Consumers on average are reported saving 10 cents per litre by shopping around, or around $6.50 per tank, which equates to $55m in collective savings.
The average price for unleaded in Adelaide is hovering around $2.31 per litre and diesel at $2.81 per litre as oil prices surge amid ongoing tension in the Middle East and the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.
Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Michael Brown said “transparency and accountability” were “more important than ever” as soaring petrol prices impacted South Australians’ budgets, and that the government would be holding extra random inspections.
“We are going to do over 200 extra inspections during the week to make sure that petrol stations not only post the correct prices, but they also post where the particular types of fuel are available at their service station,” he said.
Mr Brown said compliance with real-time fuel price updates from retailers had been “extremely good” since government crackdowns announced during the state election campaign.
Consumer and Business Services commissioner Brett Humphrey said CBS conducted 150 “proactive inspections” per month to ensure service stations were compliant with real-time pricing monitoring laws.
“The fuel pricing scheme is saving people money. Just this morning, if you get on the app, you can see a difference of up to 13 cents per litre, for example, just in the western suburbs of Adelaide. But the scheme only works if the servos do the right thing,” he said.
RAA energy and future mobility adviser Peter Nattrass said real-time fuel pricing, such as the app offered by the RAA, was a “game-changer” for motorists.
“Now more than ever we are seeing that motorists are relying on these apps to save them at the bowser,” he said.
Mr Nattrass said the fuel market was “very volatile”, and that “motorists are really exposed to those rising prices”.
Mr Brown said the number of offenders was low, and that of more than 1500 inspections by CBS since, 67 warning notices and 29 expiation notices had been issued to service stations.
Extracted in full from: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/south-australian-motorists-save-55m-a-year-using-fuel-apps-raa-data-reveals-as-servo-blitz-revealed/news-story/181a0c4af64232b63ab2bf6b865af3f4
