WIMMERA drivers are being slugged an extra 13 cents for fuel between bowsers in Horsham and Ararat.
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The average fuel price for unleaded fuel in Horsham for the seven days to July 29 was 139.3 cents a litre.
This is compared with 126 cents a litre at Ararat and 125 cents a litre at Ballarat.
Melbourne’s average price was 124.7 cents a litre.
RACV vehicle engineering manager Michael Case said market competition was the reason for the difference.
“We do see this often in regional Victoria where prices of nearby regional centres can be quite different,” he said.
“It is nearly always due to competition, which relates to the number of retailers and the type of retailers.”
Mr Case said Ararat was often cheaper than other regional areas.
“There is a transport cost component to fuel prices, but it is quite small,” he said.
Mr Case said petrol prices at Ararat had been low for some time.
“There was a downward trend in all areas late last year and early this year, but when prices resumed at usual levels in February, Ararat went to about 130 cents a litre,” he said.
“It’s now about 126 to 127 cents a litre, so it has been quite low for the past five months now.
“Horsham on the other hand went to 133 cents a litre when prices resumed at usual levels, which was three to five cents more than Ararat.
“Since then, Ararat has remained steady and Horsham has drifted upwards.”
Mr Case said fuel prices in regional Victoria, although higher than Melbourne prices, generally remained relatively stable over time.
“Prices in Melbourne follow a fuel price cycle, which makes comparison difficult,” he said.
“Melbourne prices have been low for some time, about 122 cents a litre, but they are now in the process of going up 149.9 cents a litre because it’s the beginning of a new fuel cycle, which is a huge increase.”
Mr Case said Horsham prices were often in line with other areas of regional Victoria.
He encouraged people to fill up at Ararat if they were travelling to Melbourne.
“It is difficult for people who live in Horsham if all retail outlets have fuel at the same price, but anyone on the road should be aware of the differences and take the opportunity to fill up whenever they see cheaper fuel,” he said.
“If people fill up in Ararat and they have a 50 or 60 litre tank, the savings are worthwhile.”
