‘They can charge what they like’: there’s no mystery to the fuel market

NRMA spokesperson Rebecca Page said the price hike is no longer a result influenced by OPEC Nation, rather a decision being made closer to home.

“It’s really one of those mysteries of the fuel market. It is up to the service stations. It is up to the oil company. It’s not regulated … they can charge what they like,” she said. 

“Prices are falling, but motorists in the Central West aren’t seeing those prices fall at local bowsers.

“We’d like to see a significantly larger price drop in regional areas throughout the Central West.”

This week the average price of unleaded petrol in Orange is 139.9, making it the state’s 16^th most expensive location, according to the NRMA’s Bowser Buster chart, which monitors the prices of 57 locations in NSW.

Mrs Page said the price of fuel in Orange varied by at least 10 cents on Monday, the difference coming from lower prices offered by an independent service station. 

“Metro Fuel is selling the same fuel for 126.9 – that’s a good 10 cents cheaper,” Rebecca said.

Further afield at Bathurst prices continue to soar to an average of 142.7, dropping the city seven places on the NRMA’s chart to sit third at 54^th.

On Monday Bathurst’s unleaded varied in price from 147.9 to 140.3.

“Unfortunately Bathurst has been one of the more expensive regional towns in the last few months,” Mrs Page said.

Figures released by the NRMA reveal Dubbo had a 0.8 cent drop to bring the average down to 140.3 as of the week ending February 5.

On Monday the price varied from 139.5 to 141.9.

“Those falls should be significantly more,” Rebecca said.

“That’s less than one cent in a week, when the prices in Sydney are on par with the wholesale price. 

Lithgow topped the chart as the state’s most expensive location for fuel with an average of 144.3.

Parkes and Forbes had an average of 136.3 and 138.2 respectively as of the week ending February 5.