Maitland people are paying too much for fuel and prices are not expected to get any lower for the Easter long-weekend.
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That’s what the NRMA said.
NRMA Hunter-Central Coast director Kyle Loades encouraged motorists who were going away for the Easter break to buy fuel for their cars outside the Maitland-Newcastle area if possible.
Mr Loades said petrol was five to 10 cents more expensive in Maitland and Newcastle than NRMA analysts thought was fair.
He said NRMA had met with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to find out why the average cost of unleaded petrol in the region was so high.
“We expect unleaded petrol to remain stable through the Easter period because of a strong dollar and stable oil prices,” he said.
“Our advice to motorists is to delay buying petrol, if they are going away, until they get to places like the Central Coast, Bulahdelah, Singleton or Muswellbrook.
“Maitland motorists should buy their petrol out of town.”
The Maitland-Newcastle area was ranked 48th of the 54 regions monitored by NRMA last week with an average price of 160.3 cents per litre for unleaded fuel.
Tumut had the most expensive fuel in NSW with an average of 164.9 cents per litre, while Sydney topped the rankings at 148.3, followed by Moss Vale which posted 148.9 cents per litre, although the Mercury has been told that petrol at Cessnock was as low as 139.9 cents a litre.
NRMA Bowser Buster records average fuel prices across NSW on a daily basis and publishes the findings online.
Mr Loades said motorists should do their research on petrol prices before stopping at the bowser.
He said if the bulk of motorists did not give their business to stations with expensive fuel prices, it would put pressure on them to become cheaper.
“We absolutely advocate people travelling to petrol stations out of the area to put pressure on the expensive stations,” he said.
* Caltex Rutherford: E10 - 160.9; ULP - 162.9; Vortex 95 - 173.9; Diesel - 161.9
* Caltex Rutherford (Woolworths): E10 - 160.9; Vortex 95 - 173.9; Diesel - 161.9
* United East Maitland (Melbourne St): E10- 158.7; ULP - 160.7; Diesel - 159.9
* Caltex East Maitland (Newcastle Road): e10 -160.9; Vortex 98 -179.9; Diesel - 161.9
* Shell Greta (Coles): E10 - 160.9; Diesel - 161.9
* Shell Cessnock (Wine Country Drive): E10 - 152.9; ULP - 154.9; Diesel - 159.9
* Caltex Cessnock (Woolworths): E10 - 139.9; ULP - 152.9; Diesel - 159.9
* Independent Cessnock: ULP - 152.9; Diesel - 155.8
* Mobil Sandgate: E10 - 146.9
* Shell Hexham (Coles): E10 - 152.9; ULP - 154.9; Diesel - 159.9