OIL prices are plummeting, petrol prices in Sydney are as low as 115.9 for regular unleaded and yet in the Southern Highlands motorists are still paying up to 20 cents more at the major stations.
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Brent crude oil fell another 0.6 per cent on Tuesday and is at a five-year-low of $60.70 a barrel.
In Robertson, Highlanders can fill up for 116.9 for Unleaded E10 which is in line with Sydney prices, however in Bowral, Mittagong and Moss Vale E10 is 139.9 at Caltex and Shell.
The Southern Highland News has been monitoring the region's petrol prices for 22 months in the Monday edition.
While prices are at their lowest of those 22 months for most stations, the majority are still charging an average of 20 cents per litre more for unleaded than the lowest price in Sydney - under 90 minutes away.
According to the ACCC prices in country areas generally respond more slowly to international price changes than prices in the larger cities.
The ACCC said prices tended to move up and down more slowly in country areas because wholesalers and retailers replenished their fuel stocks less frequently, which meant the flow of price changes through the supply chain could take longer.
When we began our fuel watch in February 2013, Bowral and Mittagong Caltex and the Moss Vale/ Mittagong / Bowral Shell stations sat at 151.9 cents per litre for E10 unleaded.
Sydney's lowest price for E10 at the time was 24 cents cheaper at 127.9.
It stayed that way until April 7, 2013 when E10 prices dropped to 149.9, then to 147.9 on May 5, remaining at the same price for four months with about a 20 cent difference each week in comparison to Sydney's lowest price.
The prices at these stations changed a total of seven times in four months, while prices at Robertson Service Station and Karen's General Store in Berrima fluctuated weekly.
From September 5, 2013, prices at Coles Express and Caltex then sat between 151.9 -159.9 until November 2014.
Last month, petrol prices at Shell and Caltex sat at 149.9 for most of November and in the November 29 edition of the Southern Highland News prices had dropped two cents a litre, to 147.9, while Sydney's lowest price fluctuated around the 124 - 128.9 mark.
Highlanders have voiced their frustration at the high fuel prices in Bowral, Mittagong and Moss Vale quite regularly on the Southern Highland News letters page and Facebook page.
Catherine Kerr of Mittagong said she knew many people who went to Robertson and even Sally's Corner to fill up.
"I travel to Sydney frequently - I inevitably fill up there. I am disgusted that the price difference right now is 20 cents a litre below Bowral," Ms Kerr said
In September Mittagong resident Ian Carroll questioned why the Southern Highlands had the most expensive fuel between Bowral and Broken Hill.
"In Broken Hill diesel was available for 162.9c...In the Highlands, diesel is regularly at 169.9c, except for New Berrima and Robertson where the prices are more consistent with the rest of the state."
In February 2013, spokesperson for Coles Express Jorden Caldwell told the Southern Highland News, "We're confident that the Coles Express offer is competitive".
However, with the Coles Express fuel prices consistently higher than two local service centres, Robertson and New Berrima, for 22 months, this statement failed to prove true.
Mr Caldwell said in regional Australia, Coles Express fuel prices were influenced by low stock turnovers, freight costs, and several other costs of doing business that were higher while operating a service station in regional areas.
He said in the fuel industry, retail competition could be very localised.
"It can be confined to a small geographic area such as a town, suburb or part of a suburb. This means that it can often be misleading to compare fuel prices in one area with those of another."
Coles declined to comment yesterday.
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