‘Unprecedented’: Retailers gouging PG motorists at the pump according to experts

“The difference is retail margins,” said President of Canadians for Affordable Energy,” we know the difference in taxation between Vancouver and Victoria, and central BC and they tend to be about 15 cents a litre more expensive.”

McTeague added the margins for retailers in Vancouver are no more than eight cents per litre, whereas here in Prince George even at $2.06 per litre would equal a 24-cent retail margin, three times that of Vancouver retailers.

That much of a margin is something McTeague called unprecedented adding he had never seen anything like that before.

Considering the additional 18.5 cents in taxes piled onto the Lower Mainland prices, there is no reason for the prices down south to be less than Northern BC.

McTeague said he doesn’t expect the prices to take a major drop back to what was considered normal prior to the big spike at the pump in the spring in the near future. Consider anywhere between $1.80-$2.20 cents per litre the new range.

Kevin Barredo, a gas price analyst from Vanderhoof said the lack of fluctuations make no sense in Prince George when you compare them to the Lower Mainland.

Barredo said given the fuel consumed in Vanderhoof comes from the Prince George refinery having cheaper prices in Vanderhoof and Fort St. James than PG doesn’t add up.

The BC government did announce some relief for motorists including a $100 credit for all ICBC customers although the payment has still not been delivered for many.

by Caden Fanshaw

‘Unprecedented’: Retailers gouging PG motorists at the pump according to experts

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