[Marc]

Lots in the news today about supermarket fuel retailers charging motorists more than should for petrol and diesel, due to a lack of competition.

BBC report here says drivers have been paying 6p a litre more than they should.

And here's the Guardian quoting the government energy secretary accusing supermarkets of treating drivers like 'cash cows'.

Now they're going to be forced to publish 'live prices' so drivers can choose where to fill up.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “This is a landmark day when it comes to fuel prices in the UK. The fact that drivers appear to have lost out to the tune of nearly £1bn as a result of increased retailer margins on fuel is nothing short of astounding in a cost-of-living crisis and confirms what we’ve been saying for many years that supermarkets haven’t been treating drivers fairly at the pumps."

There's more reaction from the RAC here.

Does anyone already compare prices? Or do you go to the same place all the time? Or do you fill up at the nearest one when you need to?

[Drivingforfun]

I keep an eye on prices when I pass filling stations and fill up whenever I pass a garage that I consider "below average".

95%, probably 99%, of the time, this is at supermarkets.

Why aren't branded filling stations (BP, Shell, Esso etc.) being forced to do the same? In my experience they charge more than the supermarkets almost 100% of the time?

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

Why aren't branded filling stations (BP, Shell, Esso etc.) being forced to do the same? In my experience they charge more than the supermarkets almost 100% of the time?

Good point! Maybe they are but the news reports have focused more on the supermarkets as it's part of the general rise in cost of living which seems to be dominating the news at the moment.
The BBC report says "supermarkets and other fuel retailers" so maybe they are included?

[Rolebama]

Fine words from the Government Energy Secretary. Isn't he the guy who approved the electric and gas companies to increase their prices last year to make us pay international trading prices for our home-produced electricity and nearly double the standing charges? As for treating motorists like cash-cows, hasn't the government been doing that for decades already? The hypocracy of our government never fails to amaze me.

[Marc]

It looks like the RAC app team have been busy of late!
I just posted about an update to the app being rolled out which includes..... a fuel checker!

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

Isn't he the guy who approved the electric and gas companies to increase their prices last year to make us pay international trading prices for our home-produced electricity and nearly double the standing charges?

Don't get me started on standing charges @Rolebama
I've got solar panels so for the past few weeks my elec bill has been zero. Or, rather, it would have been, if it wasn't for the massive daily standing charge!
Funnily enough, I don't get to add a standing charge for the electricity I don't use and export back to the grid.....

[Drivingforfun]

@Marc

That's a brilliant point!!!

Bit like insurance, they can charge me a £45 admin charge but I can't charge them for MY time :D

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

@Marc

That's a brilliant point!!!

Bit like insurance, they can charge me a £45 admin charge but I can't charge them for MY time :D

Exactly. It's the same thing! There's no difference between the energy they supply me, and the energy I supply them.
(If I was to be more precise, which I suppose I ought to be, then they can argue that the elec I export back just goes into the grid, not to their own specific supply. But still, doesn't seem fair at all.)

[Marc]

Apparently Asda is starting to display 'live' prices on its website. I have never been to the Asda website before.... 🤣

[Rolebama]

FWIW: I queried standing charges some time ago, and was told that essentially it is 'rent' for meters, cables and pipes bringing the utility into my house. It is apparently used for the upkeep of the system.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

FWIW: I queried standing charges some time ago, and was told that essentially it is 'rent' for meters, cables and pipes bringing the utility into my house. It is apparently used for the upkeep of the system.

Yep, that sounds about right @Rolebama It's also a way they can increase revenue without increasing the cost-per-kWh you use. So in other words, even if you're a low user and you've got solar panels up to your eyeballs, you get charged more for your connection to the grid.