REGIONAL centres are copping the brunt of petrol price spikes, with some areas recording a 28c per litre increase last week.
Since Thursday, petrol prices in some regional service stations have jumped to 163.9 cents per litre, while others prices remained unchanged.
Naracoorte and Bordertown were subjected to a significant spike of 24c per litre and 18c per litre respectively, but it was Whyalla who recorded the highest petrol price of 163.9c on Friday.
RAA spokesperson Mark Borlace said unlike Adelaide’s petrol price cycle, regional pump prices in the past have not been subjected to such massive increases.
He said the advent of price variations of this magnitude in regional towns made calls for the State Government to fulfil its commitment to introduce real-time fuel pricing more urgent.
“It’s too early to say if this is a push to start a price cycle in regional centres,” he said.
“But if it is, that makes it even more important to introduce real-time fuel pricing to help regional motorists shop around for the cheapest prices.”
Mr Borlace said motorists faced with such price variations could save hundreds of dollars a year if the government provided real-time pricing information from individual service stations.
“The NSW, Queensland and Northern Territory governments already require service stations to provide real-time fuel prices, which are published on websites and used in apps,” he said.
“SA motorists deserve the same accurate information available interstate so they can take advantage of cheaper prices when buying fuel.
“RAA is disappointed the SA government has not delivered on its commitment to help cash-strapped households by providing real-time fuel pricing information for South Australia.”
