DESPITE petrol prices in Sydney being at their lowest in 10 years at well under $1 per litre, Southern Highlands' prices have remained at more than $1.25 per litre.
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This is a long-standing trend, as indicated in a December Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) report, where Moss Vale topped the list for the highest average price (144.9) for premium unleaded petrol in regional New South Wales in both the June and September 2015 quarters.
An ACCC representative said there were a number of factors that contributed to prices but was unable to comment on why prices were higher in the Highlands.
He said factors included lower population and demand, higher costs for transport and storage of fuel, less demand for convenience sales which affected overall profits and ability to keep fuel prices lower and the location of outlets (proximity to highways and likelihood to attract a high number of customers).
The ACCC representative also said the organisation had a defined role in "monitoring and reporting fuel prices" and "enforcing any breaches of the Competition and Consumer Act".
"Under the Act the ACCC can take action through the courts when there is evidence of illegal anti-competitive behaviour (such as collusion or agreements that substantially lessen competition)," the representative said in a statement.
"However, high prices are not of themselves evidence of anti-competitive behaviour which may be in breach of the Competition and Consumer Act."
This month the Southern Highland News reported the Highlands was one of the most expensive places for premium unleaded petrol in the state, according to the NRMA's Bowser Buster website.
NRMA representative Peter Khoury said a lack of competition was a factor, as opposed to the location or size of an area.
"Each town is its own market," Mr Khoury said.
"If there's not enough competition, prices will be higher than areas that do have more competition."
A Caltex representative said there were a number of factors for differences in prices between regional areas, such as different business models.
"Some sites can focus solely on fuel while others can rely on convenience or a combination of the two" the representative said.
When the Southern Highland News approached a Coles spokesperson about Southern Highlands petrol prices in the past, they said "we do not comment on petrol prices".
The NRMA's Bowser Buster website ranks the weekly average unleaded petrol and diesel prices for over 50 locations in NSW and Canberra.
To view ACCC reports, visit www.accc.gov.au/publications
