NRMA representatives will meet with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission next month to ask why petrol can cost more than 10 cents a litre more in Maitland than other Hunter towns such as Cessnock and Singleton.

Hunter-Central Coast director Kyle Loades said NRMA predicted the average cost of unleaded fuel in the Maitland-Newcastle region would remain between 159 and 160 cents per litre this weekend.

Meanwhile, the average price in Sydney will be as low as 144 cents per litre and will range between 153 and 154 cents per litre at the Central Coast.

Mr Loades said NRMA analysts saw no reason for the price difference between Maitland-Newcastle and other parts of the state, where cheaper fuel was available because of low oil prices and a strong Australian dollar.

He said he believed Maitland’s high prices were unjustified and urged motorists to buy fuel outside the area if possible.

“We simply believe that large regions like the Maitland-Newcastle area should have better buying power than smaller areas like the Central Coast, which is usually between five to seven cents [a litre] cheaper,” he said.

“We will be voicing our concerns to the ACCC that motorists in the Newcastle and Maitland area are ­paying too much for their fuel.”

Results of an NRMA survey released yesterday showed that 53 per cent of motorists thought a law that banned signs that displayed the ­discounted price of fuel at petrol ­stations had helped give power back to consumers.

Mr Loades said, while there was often little choice for people in Maitland, the simpler price boards helped consumers to avoid buying over-priced petrol disguised by ­confusing signs.

“We believe the price boards in Maitland work just as well as those in other areas.

“A simpler price board gives a truer indication of the fuel price and gives control back to the buyer instead of oil companies and petrol stations.”